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Death Of University of Oregon Student Still Undetermined

GoDucks.com

A University of Oregon freshman died suddenly after seeking medical attention on Tuesday. Lauren Jones was a student athlete and her death may be related to a bacterial infection outbreak.

Lauren Jones was a chemistry major and a member of the U of O acrobatics and tumbling team. Three cases of Meningococcemia have been confirmed at the university. Lane County Public Health spokesman Jason Davis says an autopsy is being conducted to determine the cause of Jones's death.

Davis: "We really want to step in and do our job and prevent the spread of disease, but until we know it was in fact a communicable disease, we have to wait until that news gets to us. So we're in a holding pattern too and that's not a fun position to be in when there are potentially people's lives at risk."

Davis says the U of O is communicating with the people who had close contact with Jones. Until the cause of her death is confirmed, Lane County Public Health and the U of O cannot determine what steps to take next. Davis says their hearts and thoughts go out to Jones's family and friends.