# Leech infections via natural water in Turkey

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/leech-infections-via-natural-water-in-turkey
> Updated: 2026-09-23T10:39:30.000Z. Sources: 15. Developments: 2.

Medical professionals in Turkey have reported separate incidents involving the removal of live leeches from patients' throats and nasal passages following contact with uncontrolled natural water sources.

In Çorum, a 59-year-old man underwent surgery at Hitit University Erol Olçok Training and Research Hospital to remove a leech from his lower pharynx. The patient had reportedly consumed water from a village spring three weeks prior and experienced symptoms such as difficulty swallowing and coughing up blood. Hospital officials advised against drinking from unfiltered or stagnant natural water sources.

Shortly after, in Siirt, a 10-year-old boy was treated for recurring nosebleeds. Doctors discovered a live leech extending from the tonsils to the back of the nose. The child had been swimming in a stream and consuming water from an uncontrolled source approximately 15 days earlier. Medical staff successfully removed the leech, and the child's health remained stable.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-23: Büşra Balıkçı disappearance investigation leads to six arrests in Sivas

Authorities continue searching for 11-month-old Büşra Balıkçı in Sivas, Turkey, as six family members, including the parents, have been arrested following conflicting allegations of sale or murder.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/siirt-doctor-removes-live-leech-from-10-year-old-boys-throat

### 2026-09-17: Çorum doctors remove live leech from patient's throat

A man in Çorum, Turkey, underwent surgery to remove a live leech from his throat after drinking from an unfiltered village spring. He has since made a full recovery.

8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hitit-university-hospital-removes-live-leech-from-patients-throat

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Cite as: Leech infections via natural water in Turkey. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/leech-infections-via-natural-water-in-turkey