There are now three children in Lexington, NC showing symptoms consistent with a pathogenic E. coli infection. According to Fox 8, two of the children have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, the primary cause of kidney failure in this age group.

The Lexington Dispatch reports that the pathogen hasn’t even been confirmed and Davidson County health officials say that links to any specific food, site or activity have not been made.

Jen Hames, Davidson County’s health education supervisor, said county and state officials are trying to determine the commonality between the cases.

“At this point, we can’t find a connection to anything,” Hames said.

The Tyro students are still being treated for symptoms associated with the infection, which often causes acute or bloody diarrhea, vomiting, severe abdominal cramps and low-grade fever.

Kirsti Clifford, a spokeswoman for the state department of health and human services, said lab tests did not confirm E. coli in the students. However, that could be due to the impact of the antibiotics the students are taking, which are designed to stop the bacteria from growing, Hames said.

It is curious as to why kids who are suspected of having a pathogenic E. coli were on antibiotics as they tend to lead to lysing of cells resulting in spreading the toxin and often worsen the symptoms.