Your kids don't have to be at camp to get sick from E.Coli. In fact, you can become infected right in your own home. We spoke with area health officials. They say E.Coli is everywhere.

You can find it in uncooked meat, on produce... it can even float around in your local swimming pool, but you don't need to be afraid of it. Just take the steps to prevent it. It could be on your fingers right now.

Kerry Gateley M.D., Director of the Central Virginia Health District - "We still haven't gotten so sophisticated that we don't need to just wash our hands."

Kerry Gateley says everyone has some form of E. coil in their digestive tract. But it’s the bad stuff -- E.Coli 0157 that causes problems.

Gateley - "That is a toxin producing subspecies that has been certainly associated with some fairly serious outbreaks."

E. coil is spread through animal feces, including that of humans. And if it comes in contact with your meat or produce, you can have some serious problems.

Gateley - "Children do seem to be somewhat more susceptible to developing symptoms. But in any given situation people can be infected and show no signs."

And those signs are no fun. Symptoms include cramping and terrible diarrhea. So how do you avoid an infection?

Gateley says a lot of E.Coli infections come from undercooked ground beef. So if you like your meat on the rare side -- be advised. The health department says to cook beef to 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

And as for produce -- rinse it off. Who knows what your fruits and veggies touched before they made it to the super market. Disinfect any part of your kitchen that might have been exposed to bacteria during cooking.

But food isn't the only way to become infected. Be careful about swimming in waters near cow pastures, especially after it rains.

Steve Simpson, Central Virginia Health District - "It's gonna wash anything that's on top of the fields and the grass, it's going to get washed into the streams."

Health officials say if some of that water gets in your mouth, you might get an E.Coli infection. Click here for more information on E.Coli and how to prevent a serious infection in your family.