Suspicious death of an infant at Ndamatou Hospital: what the autopsy reveals, an update on the investigation

Contrary to the statement issued by the management of Ndamatou Hospital in Touba, the autopsy results for the infant who died after an injection, according to his family, are indeed available. Seneweb exclusively reveals the forensic pathologist's conclusions and the latest developments in the police investigation.

On October 2, 2026, a nine-month-old infant, SS Dieng, was admitted to the emergency room of Ndamatou Hospital in Touba. According to the hospital director, the child was admitted for asthma, according to the investigation. He subsequently suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest after receiving a betamethasone injection. Admitted to intensive care, he died later that same day, around 3:00 a.m.

On October 5, 2026, the hospital director contacted the police station to report the death. According to him, the child's parents had become agitated, as revealed by the investigation. He therefore decided to file a request to determine the cause of death.

Following a favorable opinion from the public prosecutor, a request for assistance was sent the same day to the director of the Idrissa Pouye General Hospital in Grand Yoff, for the performance of the autopsy.

On October 7, 2026, a second request for assistance was sent to the head of the Poison Control Center of Senegal, located at Fann Hospital. This request concerned toxicological and histopathological analyses of samples taken from the victim's body. The deputy public prosecutor of Mbacké also ordered the issuance of a burial certificate to the family.

The autopsy findings

On October 9, 2026, the Ndamatou district police station received the autopsy results from the Idrissa Pouye General Hospital in Grand Yoff. The body examined was that of SS Dieng, nine months old, son of S. Mbacké and N. Dieng, residing with his parents in Touba Heliport.

The certificate of cause of death concludes that there was "a state of anasarca with facial swelling, diffuse infiltration of soft tissues, associated with pleural and peritoneal effusions. Signs of acute renal and myocardial distress. Absence of traumatic injury and macroscopic malformation."

Anasarca refers to generalized edema, that is, diffuse swelling of the body due to fluid accumulation in the tissues. Pleural and peritoneal effusions correspond to the presence of fluid around the lungs and in the abdomen. The forensic pathologist also noted signs of acute kidney and heart failure. He found no traumatic injuries or malformations visible to the naked eye.

The toxicological analyses are still pending.

As of Sunday, October 11, 2026, investigators have not yet received the results of the analyses requested from the Poison Control Center at Fann Hospital. These results are expected to determine the exact cause of death.

This case is being presented as an alleged medical scandal at the Touba Ndamatou Public Health Establishment (EPS). According to the family, the infant received an injection that reportedly caused his death. A poster circulating on social media reads "Justice for SS Dieng, 9 months old."

The investigation is ongoing, pending toxicological and histopathological results.