Palermo investigation follows death of child from diphtheria

An investigation is underway in Palermo following the death of four-year-old Anna Rosa Bartolotta from diphtheria, a disease that had largely disappeared in Italy. The child died in late August after being treated at local hospitals.

The Prosecutor's Office in Palermo has placed the child's parents under investigation for manslaughter. While media reports suggested the family were ‘no-vax’, their legal counsel denies this, stating the parents and their other four children are vaccinated. The lawyer claims the lack of immunization for Anna Rosa was due to a specific, significant impediment that will be explained to investigators.

Additionally, eight doctors from the Civico health agency have been placed under investigation. The family has filed a complaint alleging medical incompetence, claiming that during the child's first visit to the Cervello hospital on August 13, she was misdiagnosed with tonsillitis despite the parents informing staff she had not completed her vaccinations. Autopsy results have confirmed a severe and widespread infection caused the death.