Local News

Josephine County Public Health is investigating several local cases of E. coli including one case that is likely responsible for a young girl's death.

Experts are looking into the source of the E. coli infections and at this time do not believe the exposure is linked to any local business, park or recreational body of water.

Health officials said E. coli is a common bacterium, although some strains can cause serious disease. They said the local cases are of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, which can cause diarrhea and other symptoms.

Most infected people get watery or bloody diarrhea and stomach cramps within one to 10 days of exposure to the bacteria. Most infected people get better on their own within five to seven days. However, some get a more severe illness that damages their kidneys. It is most common in young children and the elderly.

Trusted sources confirm a 5-year-old Grants Pass girl who was about to start school as a kindergartner died this week of complications from an E. coli infection at Oregon Health Sciences University hospital in Portland. Her 2-year-old brother became very ill last weekend and is still being treated at OHSU.

Call your health care provider if you think you or a family member might be ill with E. coli.

Experts recommend taking steps to help prevent E. coli infections. Practice good overall hygiene with special attention to hand-washing. Wash hands after touching animals or their environments. Keep what you eat and drink away from animals. Cook meats thoroughly, preventing raw meat from contacting other food. Avoid consuming raw and unpasteurized dairy and juice products. If you are ill, avoid school and childcare attendance, food handling and patient care.