Girl dies of diphtheria in Palermo; parents under investigation

The parents of Anna Rosa Bartolotta, the little girl who died of diphtheria in Palermo, are under investigation for manslaughter. The child had not been vaccinated immediately after birth at the request of her anti-vaccine parents, despite the fact that the vaccine is compulsory in Italia. Deputy Public Prosecutor Laura Vaccaro has entered the mother and father of the four-year-old girl in the register of suspects pending the post-mortem examination, to allow them to appoint their own legal advisers.

The decision to investigate them was taken after it was established that the couple’s five children had not been vaccinated by choice. The public prosecutor’s office is gathering all the girl’s medical records dating from 13 August, the day of her first admission to Cervello Hospital, which lasted just two hours. This was followed by a second admission on Saturday 15 August, when the girl was in a much more serious condition.

The diagnosis of diphtheria was confirmed at 6 pm on Sunday 16 August. The protocol to prevent the spread of infection was immediately put into effect. Antibiotics and a booster dose of the vaccine were administered to all medical and nursing staff who had come into contact with Anna Rosa.