Despite belief in some quarters to the contrary, the bodies of victims of natural disasters or armed conflict rarely pose a health threat to communities, the Red Cross and the World Health Organization said Friday. Victims who have died from trauma, drowning or fire "do not normally harbour organisms that cause disease with common precautions," the agencies said. Both also noted the risk of diarrhoea from drinking water contaminated by faecal material from dead bodies. But routine disinfection of drinking water is sufficient to prevent waterborne illness, even though bodies should not be left in contact with drinking water sources, the agencies said. "Those who survive an event like a natural disaster are more likely to spread disease than dead bodies," added Pierre Guyomarch, head of forensics at the Red Cross.

Source: The North Africa Journal September 16, 2023 10:35 UTC