A 13-year-old Italian boy has died after consuming raw-milk cheese contaminated with E. coli bacteria in June 2017, which left him in a permanent vegetative state. Mattia Maestri's family has launched an aggravated negligent homicide case following his death, which their legal representatives described as 'nine years of agony'.
Father announces son's passing
Mattia's father, Giovanni Battista Maestri, announced the news of his son's death. According to Italian newspaper Il Corriere del Trentino, he said: "Our Mattia has left us and, on his behalf, I thank you for helping to make his passing less painful."
Mattia fell into a coma after eating the contaminated cheese, spending a month in intensive care at a hospital in Padua and then a year at a rehabilitation clinic in Conegliano. Since his son first fell ill, Giovanni has campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness about the dangers of unpasteurised dairy products. He established an awareness group and wrote a book, which was presented to the Italian parliament earlier this year.
Legal and health aftermath
Two employees from the dairy were found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm following a lengthy court battle. Mattia became ill after consuming 'Due Laghi' cheese, produced from raw milk by the Coredo cheese dairy in the Non Valley, Trentino, Northern Italy. He developed haemolytic uraemic syndrome, a serious condition associated with the destruction of red blood cells, which can lead to blood clots that cut off blood flow to vital organs, including the brain.
At the time of his illness, Mattia was just four years old. His father attributes the contamination to failures in the milk collection process. By the time of his death, Mattia was taking 47 medications per day, enduring multiple seizures daily, and had lost his sight.
Tributes and public health advice
Mattia's funeral was held in Coredo, with dozens of mourners gathering to pay their respects. Father Raymond Marcieca said: "Mattia's ordeal was a real trial, he did not have time to sin and will remain an angel forever." His teachers also paid tribute, saying: "You reminded us of the profound value of life, and we fondly remember your first day in class. You will always be a friend, and you will be that special magnet that keeps us united in our memories of the years we spent together at school."
E. coli can be contracted through undercooked meat, contaminated water, farm animals, and raw fruit and vegetables, and can also spread from person to person. Those in the UK are urged to contact NHS 111 or their GP if they or their children display any symptoms of an E. coli infection.
