Management of Cadavers following Natural Disasters

The number of deaths caused by some natural disasters-hurricanes, floods, and volcanic eruptions-has tended to diminish in recent years. This has been due, in part to sophisticated and well-designed early warning and information systems. However, there are still instances, such as the hurricanes of 1998 (Georges and Mitch) and major earthquakes in the Americas, where the number of deaths is very high.

The presence of a large number of dead bodies in the wake of a natural disaster causes uncertainty and fear among the population. This fear is exacerbated by inaccurate information that has circulated in the media about dead bodies causing outbreaks of epidemics. In the face of this problem, countries should adopt measures in accordance with the customs of the population. The problem is political and social, not health related.

The following basic principle should be kept in mind: The bodies of victims of natural disasters who died as a result of trauma, do not pose a risk of epidemics. The greatest risk that exists is transmission of gastrointestinal illnesses caused when bodies, dead animals or bones contaminate water sources.

What to do?

Inform the public that the risk of epidemics of diseases such as cholera, typhoid, etc. from cadavers that have died as the result of the effects of a disaster is minimal. The risk posed by bodies buried by a landslide or mudslide is non-existent.

• Remember that the priority to treat the survivors and reestablish the health care system as soon as possible.
• Promote the identification and tagging of cadavers, including issuing a death certificate as soon as possible.
• Encourage the prompt delivery of bodies to family members, and respect their wishes and social customs.
• Support the careful handling of bodies by rescue teams to avoid the risk of contamination due to poor health management of cadavers.

What not to do? Don't . . .

• . . . advocate for emergency legislation on the management of cadavers
• . . . promote mass cremation of bodies because technically, it is a difficult and useless task,
• . . . support mass burials of unidentified bodies in collective graves.

Contact
Ciro Ugarte
Area on Emergency Preparedness
(202) 974-3708
E-mail: ugarteci@paho.org