Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
CSTS | Department of Psychiatry | Uniformed Services University | 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814-4799 | www.CSTSonline.org

Information for Healthcare Providers
in Body Recovery from Mass DeathAs a healthcare provider atmeningitis and septicemia
the site of mass death you may(especially meningococcal), andAs a medical expert you may needbe supervising a team of workers
hemorrhagic fever (Morgan O.
to take a leading role in addressing
recovering bodies or you may
Infectious disease risks fromconcerns about the risks ofbe working directly with humandead bodies following naturalremains. Working with or arounddisasters. Rev Panam Salud
handling dead bodies.
human remains may arouse strong
Publica. 2004;15(5):307–12).
feelings of pity, horror, repulsion,
Recommendations for Workers Recovering the Deaddisgust, and anger in spite of your expectations that you
should be able to cope with the experience more easily than After Natural Disasters:others. A commonly held belief is that human and animal■ Use universal precautions for blood and body ﬂuids.
corpses pose an urgent public health risk. As a medical■ Vaccinate for Hepatitis B.
expert you may need to take a leading role in addressing■ Dispose of or disinfect used gloves.
concerns about the risks of handling dead bodies.
■ Prevent cross-contamination of personal items.
■ Wash hands after handling bodies and before eating.
Helpful Insights■ Disinfect vehicles and equipment.
■ Understanding the local culture, healthcare practices,and beliefs about death will foster cooperation and■ Use body bags, especially for badly damaged bodies,
positive response to medical recommendations.
body parts, and contaminated personal effects.
■ Myths, superstitions, and rumors may be prevalent andAdditional Resources
run counter to sound medical knowledge.
■ A source of information covering multiple aspects of the■ Most organisms in the tissues of dead bodies are
topic from health considerations to socio-cultural andunlikely to infect healthy persons. Some infectious
psychological issues may be found at the Pan American
agents may be transmitted where workers are in close
Health Organization’s Health Emergencies website:
contact with blood, body ﬂuids, and tissues of deadbody that died with infectious diseases.
https://www.paho.org/disasters/index.
■ Microorganisms involved in the decay process
php?option=com_content&view=article&id=719:fr(putrefaction) are not pathogenic.
equently-asked-questions-on-the-management-ofcadavers&Itemid=0&lang=en■ Dead bodies do not cause epidemics. However, insituations of overcrowding, poor sanitation, degraded■ A discussion of the psychological impacts of exposure
drinking water systems, and high levels of endemic
to traumatic death may be found at:
disease, decaying bodies may become a cofactor in a
https://www.cstsonline.org/resources/resource-masterdeveloping epidemic such as cholera or salmonellosis.
list/information-for-first-responders-on-emotional■ Transmission of infectious agents from a cadaverreactions-to-human-bodies-in-mass-death
to a living person may occur if the deceased was■ https://www.cstsonline.org/resources/resource-masterpreviously ill. Infectious hazards for individuals
list/information-for-healthcare-providers-in-bodyinclude tuberculosis, group A streptococcal
recovery-from-mass-death
infection, gastroenteritis, transmissible spongiform
Continued
encephalopathies (such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease),
hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV infection, Ebola,■ https://www.cstsonline.org/resources/resource-

master-list/information-for-relief-workers-onemotional-reactions-to-human-bodies-in-mass-death■ For additional educational fact sheets on mass deathand other disaster-related topics, please visit:https://www.cstsonline.org/fact-sheet-menu/factsheet-searchCenter for the Study of Traumatic Stress
Department of Psychiatry
Uniformed Services University
4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814-4799
www.CSTSonline.org