The death of a 3-year-old Turkish boy has sparked significant controversy in Turkey following conflicting medical reports from the hospital and the doctor who treated him regarding an infection with Strep A, a bacterial infection that affects the throat and skin, often causing fever and sore throat. Has this bacteria, which has recently resurfaced in several countries, also made its way to Turkey?
According to local media, the child named Aras Sonmez passed away in the capital, Ankara, about two weeks ago after reportedly contracting Strep A, as confirmed by his father to the media. However, the hospital he was taken to did not acknowledge this; the medical report stated that "the cause of death is natural and attributed to the spread of an unidentified virus in the country," despite the doctor who treated the young boy informing his father that his son had indeed contracted a bacterial infection. This has led to considerable debate in Turkey.
Commenting on the ongoing discrepancies regarding the cause of the child's death, a prominent Turkish official in the medical sector noted that "Strep A bacteria have recently resurfaced in several countries, similar to what happened in Britain, after years of absence, which has raised concerns in many of those countries. However, the situation is different for Turkey."
