Frequently Asked Questions on the Management of Cadavers

Given the widespread interest in the topic of management of dead bodies, PAHO/WHO, the ICRC and a broad group of global experts have collaborated to produce practical decision-making guidelines on this delicate and difficult task. These frequently-asked questions are an example of the kind of information contained in a the publication Management of Dead Bodies after Disasters: A Field Manual for First Responders.


Contact

Department of Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief
Tel: (202) 974-3434
Email: disaster@paho.org
 

Information for the Public

Dead bodies from natural disasters do not cause epidemics. This is because victims of natural disasters die from trauma, drowning or fire. They do not have epidemic causing diseases such as cholera, typhoid, malaria or plague when they die.