"Be strong," he urged.

"OK, Dad," the 2-year-old uttered.

They would be the Idaho toddler's final words. Kyle Allgood died Wednesday night at Primary Children's Medical Center of a kidney disease commonly linked to E. coli.

Health officials believe his death is the nation's second related to contaminated spinach.

The Idaho Health Department has not confirmed that Kyle's death was linked to E. coli, only that it seems likely. They expect lab results today or Monday that will determine whether the E. coli strain that has sickened 157 Americans and killed a Wisconsin woman was to blame for the toddler's death.

They say the child's kidney ailment, hemolytic-uremic syndrome, is a red flag of an E. coli infection.

"That is the first thing we think of when we see something like this," said Maggie Mann, community health director for the Idaho Health Department's southeastern district. "But it is our responsibility in public health to not jump to conclusions."

She confirmed the toddler had eaten spinach within five days of his illness, increasing the likelihood his death is related to a recent E. coli outbreak that federal health investigators have traced to contaminated spinach from California's Monterey, San Benito and Santa Clara counties.

So far, Utah has reported 17 cases of spinach-related E. coli. Idaho has had four.

Family members wept Thursday as they reflected on this newest possible victim, who died three months shy of his third birthday.

They reflected on a boy who belted out children's songs louder than anyone else in his church class. They spoke of Kyle's affinity for buses and trains, and mused that his daredevil antics already had landed him in the doctor's office with stitches twice.

"It's tragic, especially for a little guy who's almost 3," the boy's great-uncle Thomas Allgood, of Layton, told The Salt Lake Tribune. "You expect him to have a long, full life."

The toddler's father, Jeff Allgood, said he has wrestled with anger, bitterness, self-pity and sorrow since his child's death. Yet he said he finds comfort in that his child "is in a good place right now."

He also finds strength in his two daughters, ages 5 years and 10 months.

"We have our two children still living and they deserve all our love," he said. "They are what keep us going and happy and moving forward."

Kyle fell ill last weekend. At first, it seemed like a bad case of the flu, his father said. The boy suffered fever, dehydration and, ultimately, bloody diarrhea.

After a sleepless night Sunday, the toddler's family admitted him to the Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello. The boy's condition grew progressively worse, however, forcing his transfer to Primary Children's on Wednesday.

Kyle died just before 10 p.m. that night.

"He was the happiest little boy I've ever seen," his father told The Tribune. He recalled delivering the boy himself, at home, about an hour after his mother, Robyn Allgood, began labor. "He had a beautiful toothy grin that followed him wherever he went. There will be a lot of people who will miss him."

jstettler@sltrib.com

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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS contributed to this report.

Do not eat spinach - for now

After the death of an Idaho toddler this week, health officials issued a stern warning Thursday: Avoid eating fresh spinach and thoroughly rinse all produce before eating it.

"Don't consume raw spinach right now until you hear otherwise," said Ross Mason, spokesman for the Idaho Health Department.

Dangerous bacteria

* E.coli is a bacteria, some strains of which are deadly.

* It causes diarrhea, often accompanied by abdominal cramps. Infected people sometimes get a mild fever. Kidney damage or death can occur in serious cases.

* The current outbreak is attributed to contaminated raw spinach from California.

* Authorities have urged consumers not to eat raw spinach.

* Cooking or microwaving raw spinach does not necessarily kill the bacteria.