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Four-Year-Old Girl Dies of Suspected Diphtheria in Palermo, Was Not Vaccinated

The Palermo prosecutor's office has launched an investigation following the girl's death, who was unvaccinated against diphtheria.

20 August 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Four-Year-Old Girl Dies of Suspected Diphtheria in Palermo, Was Not Vaccinated — Archive photoPhoto: Unbekannt · Rawpixel · CC0

A four-year-old girl has died in Palermo from suspected diphtheria. The prosecutor's office has opened an investigation and ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death. The child was reportedly unvaccinated, according to ANSA.

The parents, who declared themselves opposed to vaccination, initially mistook the child's symptoms for a seasonal illness. However, the symptoms quickly worsened, leading to the child's critical condition, which resulted in multi-organ failure, as reported by Rai News.

A cousin of the girl is currently hospitalized, but his condition is not serious. This case has raised questions about vaccinations, as the parents were concerned about a possible link between vaccines and autism, according to statements made to medical staff.

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