The investigation into the sudden death of actress Ece İrtem, who died the day after her 35th birthday, has taken a turn as her lawyer Ugur Gokkoyun has said a monkey scratch she received during a recent trip to Thailand should be looked into as a possible cause. However, an infectious diseases expert has denied this, stating a monkey-related infection appears less likely than other medical causes.
Collapse and Initial Findings
İrtem, best known for playing Işıl in the popular Turkish TV series Cranberry Sorbet, collapsed at her home on Monday, June 15. Ugur confirmed the news at the time, saying: "The incident occurred at her home while she was with her mother." He added that initial findings suggested she died due to a heart attack. He also shared that the actress had travelled to Thailand shortly before her death, where she had been scratched by a monkey. He said they have asked prosecutors to assess whether this incident could have led to a fatal infection.
Expert Disputes Monkey Infection Theory
Infectious diseases expert Professor Dr. Mehmet Ceyhan, president of the Infectious Diseases Association, told Tgrthaber.com that this is unlikely. He explained that the macaques commonly seen around temples in Thailand can carry several infectious agents, which may include rabies, Herpes B virus, and some bacterial infections. He acknowledged that if a deep bite or scratch becomes infected, sepsis—a severe reaction to infection that can become life-threatening when it spreads through the body—can develop.
Despite those risks, Ceyhan said a monkey-related explanation appeared to be low-probability in this case. He explained that rabies does not typically cause sudden death shortly after exposure. He also said the herpes B virus could be considered because its incubation period can be shorter, ranging from several days to about a month. However, he underlined that the detail described in the case sounded more like scratches than a bite.
Conditions for Fatal Infection
Ceyhan said a fatal infection from a monkey scratch would generally require a wound deep enough to bleed and allow microbes to enter the body. He stressed that a superficial skin scratch would not usually lead to such an outcome. The Forensic Medicine Institute has yet to issue an autopsy report, and claims about antidepressant and alcohol use have also been discussed.
Funeral and Public Reaction
The actress has been buried at the Yenikoy Cemetery in her hometown province of Aydin. However, her burial caused outrage as some fans were slammed for being "disrespectful." Several people were spotted filming and taking photos of the coffin. Footage of the moment went viral on social media, and the fans were criticised for the way they were acting towards the grieving family. Her mother reportedly became unwell during the funeral, while her father stayed beside his daughter's coffin throughout the ceremony.
