T. ModestoPhD
In Memoriam
Re: Dr. Michael Osterholm details dangers of avian flu
My understanding of the above comment is that there will be so many dead bodies and that they will have contagious issues in and of themselves. It is not that they who are dead will be passing on H5N1 virus particles as they were when they were living by breathing, but that dead bodies have their own complex contagions as well. One issue is that H5N1 is found in very high concentrations in the rectum and bowel of the most seriously ill and fatality resulting patients. During the dying process in this illness, the patient will excrete an extensive amount of diarrhea that has very high concentration of the virus in it. People who are caring for the sick and ultimately the dead person will not have the standard safety protection supplies for removal of the dead bodies in safe manner. The rate of infection can/will increase beyond measure because of the unsafe method of bodily removal, funeral ritualization and burial.
Additionally, with so many dead bodies and bodies that are not treated properly with standard thanostic (dying, death and bereavement) procedures and safety controls, this will cause and result in more compounded and complex health issues. A highly infectious person who has died creates a plethora of health issues that can affect a large area of the population in a very short period of time. An infected dead body can be as dangerous a public health issue as the person who is alive with the infection if not handled correctly and quickly. Both the handling of the remains and the expediency of the removal of the remains will not be likely in a pandemic situation. So the comment is correct that bodies will be contagious and will be stacked up hopefully in safely identified and secured areas with as much respect as possibly under the given situation.
In my continuing education training course When So Many Die at Asbury Online Institute, we have a whole section in the course on how individuals and families need to prepare to attend to the bodily remains of a loved one who has die in a medical disaster to help reduce the contagious nature of infected remains on the immediate family and the community at large. In dealing with a medical disaster of a highly contagious disease, a number of things must be considered in developing and maintaining a sick room and after death care physical and emotional support care. Remember that the funeral service professionals such as funeral directors and coroners will be in limited supply and will be overloaded with work.
Families and loved one will need to address the immediate removal of deceased bodies from their living surrounding to help reduce the numerous health issues a decaying, infectious body produces. Local communities even neighborhoods with large populations (high rise apartments etc) will need to consider and learn how to address the infectious remains in as safe a manner as possible for all concerned with limited personal supplies available. The two part thanostic punch of a pandemic from an infectious person is 1) while they are alive and 2) after they are dead. Death in many ways does not stop the ongoing medical crisis issues the family and community will experience and MUST address in a medical disaster such as a pandemic.
TM
PonyGirl said:What will it take..? When cases start breaking out in this country...they will start noticing and possibility of panic hits.
Hey did you notice this LOVELY comment:
Even the dead will be contagious.
Suffice it to say this information is not making it to the unwashed masses.
Remember hearing about a few cases a couple of months ago where people who attended funerals contracted the disease. Do you recall the 2 journalists that fell through the cracks..?
My understanding of the above comment is that there will be so many dead bodies and that they will have contagious issues in and of themselves. It is not that they who are dead will be passing on H5N1 virus particles as they were when they were living by breathing, but that dead bodies have their own complex contagions as well. One issue is that H5N1 is found in very high concentrations in the rectum and bowel of the most seriously ill and fatality resulting patients. During the dying process in this illness, the patient will excrete an extensive amount of diarrhea that has very high concentration of the virus in it. People who are caring for the sick and ultimately the dead person will not have the standard safety protection supplies for removal of the dead bodies in safe manner. The rate of infection can/will increase beyond measure because of the unsafe method of bodily removal, funeral ritualization and burial.
Additionally, with so many dead bodies and bodies that are not treated properly with standard thanostic (dying, death and bereavement) procedures and safety controls, this will cause and result in more compounded and complex health issues. A highly infectious person who has died creates a plethora of health issues that can affect a large area of the population in a very short period of time. An infected dead body can be as dangerous a public health issue as the person who is alive with the infection if not handled correctly and quickly. Both the handling of the remains and the expediency of the removal of the remains will not be likely in a pandemic situation. So the comment is correct that bodies will be contagious and will be stacked up hopefully in safely identified and secured areas with as much respect as possibly under the given situation.
In my continuing education training course When So Many Die at Asbury Online Institute, we have a whole section in the course on how individuals and families need to prepare to attend to the bodily remains of a loved one who has die in a medical disaster to help reduce the contagious nature of infected remains on the immediate family and the community at large. In dealing with a medical disaster of a highly contagious disease, a number of things must be considered in developing and maintaining a sick room and after death care physical and emotional support care. Remember that the funeral service professionals such as funeral directors and coroners will be in limited supply and will be overloaded with work.
Families and loved one will need to address the immediate removal of deceased bodies from their living surrounding to help reduce the numerous health issues a decaying, infectious body produces. Local communities even neighborhoods with large populations (high rise apartments etc) will need to consider and learn how to address the infectious remains in as safe a manner as possible for all concerned with limited personal supplies available. The two part thanostic punch of a pandemic from an infectious person is 1) while they are alive and 2) after they are dead. Death in many ways does not stop the ongoing medical crisis issues the family and community will experience and MUST address in a medical disaster such as a pandemic.
TM
