“Triangle of Sadness” star Charlbi Dean’s cause of death has been revealed, months after the South African actress died suddenly at age 32.
Dean died in August of bacterial sepsis, stemming from a rare infection known as Capnocytophaga, a New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner spokesperson told People.
Though this category of bacteria is generally found in the mouths of dogs and cats, they only cause illness, including sepsis, in humans in the rare event they spread to them, according to the CDC. Humans are usually infected through bites, scratches or close contact with a dog or cat, though the agency notes the latter is very unlikely for most people.
Dean’s sepsis “was a complication from asplenia” — or the absence of a spleen, which helps to fend off infections. The actress had her spleen removed more than a decade ago, People was informed.
The CDC notes that asplenia is among the factors known to increase a person’s risk of infection by Capnocytophaga.
The entirety of Dean’s autopsy has not yet been made public, so it’s unknown how she became infected, according to People.
Her spleen was removed around 2009 following a serious car accident, her brother Alex Jacobs told Rolling Stone on the heels of her death at a New York hospital.
“Triangle of Sadness,” which won the Cannes Film Festival’s coveted Palme d’Or in May, hit theaters early October. The comedy-drama has since been nominated for two Golden Globes, including best motion picture - musical or comedy.
OCME did not immediately respond to the Daily News’ request for comment.
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