Four-year-old girl dies of suspected diphtheria in Palermo

A four-year-old girl, Anna Rosa Bartolotta, died overnight at a pediatric hospital in Palermo, Italy, with medical reports suggesting the cause was diphtheria. The child had not been vaccinated against the disease, a decision confirmed by her parents to medical staff.

The girl arrived at the Cervello Hospital in Palermo in critical condition on the evening of August 15, 2026. Despite being intubated and transferred to the intensive care unit at the Pediatric Hospital, she succumbed to her condition. Domenico Cipolla, the medical director at Civico Hospital, stated that despite all efforts by the medical team, the child could not be saved.

While initial medical tests point toward diphtheria, official confirmation from the Higher Institute of Health is still pending. The Palermo Prosecutor's Office has ordered an autopsy to determine the precise cause of death and to review the medical procedures followed by the hospital staff during the child's care.