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A child has died after contracting E.coli, the Health Protection Agency said today.
The victim, understood to be a toddler, died at the end of September, although the source of the infection is not known.
The death of the child, from Devon, is not being linked to an outbreak of E.coli at a farm attraction in the country last month.
A Health Protection Agency (HPA) spokesman said today: "The HPA, with local partners, has been investigating a case of E.coli O157 infection in a child from Devon and who recently died.
"Our thoughts are with the family at this time, and no further details are being released due to patient confidentiality.
"The investigation found no clear source for the infection and no other cases have been linked to this child's infection."
The death is not being linked to last month's closure of part of the World of Country Life attraction, at Exmouth in East Devon.
Nor is it being connected to the outbreak at Godstone Farm in Surrey, which was linked to many cases, including 14 children who were treated in hospital.
No further details about the child are being released by the Agency.
The O157 strain causes abdominal pain and diarrhoea but can be fatal and particularly affects the elderly and children. Its transfer is usually through contaminated water or food.
World of Country Life, which has a petting farm and a deer ride, reopened fully at the weekend. The HPA found a possible link to three cases, but all have recovered.
In August, the Going Places Nursery in Plymouth was temporarily closed after three toddlers were found to have E.coli.
