4-year old Serena Profitt of Portland, Oregon fell ill and died on Monday after consuming a turkey sandwich contaminated with E. coli during a Labor Day weekend gathering.

E. Coli, short for Escherichia coli, is a rod-shaped bacteria usually found in the lower intestines of warm-blooded organisms. Although most of the said bacteria are harmless, some serotypes may cause severe food poisoning that can be fatal.

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Profitt was said to have shared the sandwich with her 5-year old friend, Brad Sutton. The boy is currently being treated at a hospital in Tacoma, Washington and is said to be in a critical but stable condition.

The little girl passed away from complications of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure.

According to the spokeswoman for Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, "Most cases of HUS occur following an infection caused by specific strains of E. coli. Serena tested positive for E. coli, but we don't yet know which strain. A sample has been sent to the state lab for further testing."

Currently, officials form Lincoln County and the Oregon Health Authority's public health division are looking into the cases of both Profitt and Sutton.

Confidentiality prevents the Portland-based health group from divulging further information.

Elizabeth, Sutton's mother, said that the two children shared a turkey sandwich that was ordered from a restaurant. After eating, the two swam in a pond. Either the food or the pond could be the potential source of the bacteria.

Two days later, the pair had fevers, stomach cramps and bloody diarrhea.

After a hospital ran tests and deemed that there was nothing wrong with Profitt, she was sent home and her family was told to keep her hydrated. However, her condition worsened, prompting her family to bring her to a McMinnville hospital, where physicians opted to rush her to a children's hospital at OHSU.

Despite initially improving last Sunday after a dialysis, Profitt suffered a stroke and died on Sunday.

Her aunt, Aleasha Hargitt, described the little girl as "wicked smart" and a lover of books. Profitt was excited to start school before she died.