EVERETT, Wash. – Five family members – three of them young children – were all sickened by e. coli. Now, the health department is trying to figure out how the family became sick.

KING

E. coli quickly spread among the family.

First, 16-month-old Adelido started to show symptoms of e. coli two weekends ago. Then, 3-year-old Carlitos became ill a few days later.

"Let's just say, lots of bloody stools, lots of blood, mucousy blood, fever, very sleepy, not themselves,” described their mother, Cairn Alfonso-Slevin.

Right after both boys got out of the hospital, their grandmother who often babysits them checked into the hospital with the same symptoms.

"She was doing horrible. She almost had to have a blood transfusion because she lost so much blood, but her numbers are going back to where they should be,” she said.

Now, 3-month-old Adrianna also has bloody diarrhea and their father Adelido is showing symptoms, too.

"It's a very hard thing to trace,” said Barbara Eisenberg, nurse practitioner.

You can get the bacteria from food, such as uncooked meat, fruit and vegetables, or unpasteurized juice or milk products. From there it can spread through hand-to-mouth contact.

The two boys may have eaten contaminated food and then passed it to the rest of the family.

Doctors have told them the boys have tested positive for the most dangerous strain of e. coli – 0157:H7.

And while some have tested negative, they could still have it.

"The problem with testing is that it has to be tested on the stool and only 50 percent of the time do organisms show up on the stool. So we have to test three different times before we get something,” said Eisenberg.

As this Everett family suffers through symptoms and awaits test results, they say they have learned the hard way how easily e. coli can spread, especially with children.

To avoid the spread of e. coli, remember to cook your meats, wash fruit and vegetables, and only drink pasteurized milk. Above all, make sure to wash hands for at least 20 seconds after changing diapers or using the restroom.