The World Health
Organisation says except in cases of hemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola, Marburg
and cholera, dead bodies are generally not infectious.
In its interim
guidance on “Infection Prevention and Control for safe management
of a dead body in the context of COVID-19″, the organisation said only the
lungs of patients with pandemic influenza, if handled improperly during an
autopsy, could be infectious.
It added that the
interim guidance was for all health care facilities and mortuaries, religious
and public health authorities, and families, who tend to the bodies of persons
who have died of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases”.
“Cadavers do not
transmit disease. It is a common myth that persons who have died of a
communicable disease should be cremated, but this is not true. Cremation is a
matter of cultural choice and available resources,” it said.
WHO added that till
date, there is no evidence of persons having become infected from exposure to
the bodies of persons who died from COVID-19 complications.
It said people may
die of COVID-19 complications in health care facilities, home or at other
locations, adding that the safety and well-being of everyone who tends to
bodies should be the first priority.
“Before attending to
a body, people should ensure that the necessary hand hygiene and personal
protective equipment (PPE) supplies are available,” WHO said.
“The dignity of the
dead, their cultural and religious traditions, and their families should be
respected and protected throughout. Hasty disposal of a dead from COVID-19
should be avoided.”
WHO added that
personnel who interact with the body (health care or mortuary staff, or the
burial team) should ensure they apply standard precautions.
It said the
precaution should include hand hygiene before and after interaction with the
body and the use of appropriate personal protective equipment according to the
level of interaction with the body.
“Ensure that any
body fluids leaking from orifices are contained; keep both the movement and
handling of the body to a minimum,” it said.
“Wrap body in cloth
and transfer it as soon as possible to the mortuary area; there is no need to
disinfect the body before transfer to the mortuary area.”
It advised children,
adults over 60 years, and “immunosuppressive” persons not to directly interact with
bodies of late COVID-19 patients.
“Although burials
should take place in a timely manner, in accordance with local practices,
funeral ceremonies not involving the burial should be postponed, as much as
possible, until the end of the pandemic,” it said.
“If a ceremony is
held, the number of participants should be limited. Participants should observe
physical distancing at all times, plus respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene.”
It added that the
recommendations would be subject to revision as new evidence becomes available.
The federal
government had said it will not
release the corpses of people who died after testing positive for
coronavirus to their relatives for burial.
At a programme in
Abuja, Lai Mohammed, minister of information, had said such corpses could only
be handled by experts from the ministry of health because they are contagious.
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