{"id":23197,"key":"Dead_bodies_in_natural_disasters","title":"Dead bodies in natural disasters","latest":{"id":1205664,"timestamp":"2025-11-27T16:01:23Z"},"content_model":"wikitext","license":{"url":"https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights","title":"CC-BY-SA-4.0"},"source":"Bodies of people who died healthy do not spread disease.\n\nPeople handling bodies face a small risk, and should practice basic hygiene (especially [[handwashing]]) to minimize risk.\n\nIn crisis-struck areas, the dead are sometimes hastily buried in mass graves, due to fears their bodies spread disease. However, this is not true, unless there is a contagious disease in the population.\n\nBurying the bodies in haste makes identification difficult, is a waste of resources, and interferes with the grieving process for survivors and relatives.\n\n== References ==\n\n* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8465464.stm Do dead bodies in Haiti pose a health risk?] - BBC, 19 January 2010\n\n{{Page data\n| license = CC-BY-SA-3.0\n| description = Dead bodies after disasters aren't always dangerous. Appropedia shares what science says and why respectful handling matters.\n}}\n\n[[Category:Emergency management]]"}