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Interim Health Recommendations for Workers who Handle 

Human Remains 

There is no direct risk of contagion or infectious disease from being near human remains for people who 

are not directly involved in recovery or other efforts that require handling dead bodies. 

Individuals in affected areas should instead exercise caution to avoid other real threats to health and 

safety, such as injury hazards from sharp debris and from unidentified structural damage to buildings, 

roads, and industrial facilities. 

Loss of sanitary infrastructure may result in uncontrolled sewerage, loss of local drinking water treatment 

capacity, and inability to maintain refrigeration for food and medical supplies. 

Recommendations for individuals who must have direct contact with human remains 

Human remains may contain blood-borne viruses such as hepatitis viruses and HIV, and bacterial 

pathogens that cause diarrheal diseases, such as shigella and salmonella. These viruses and bacteria do 

not pose a risk to someone walking nearby, nor do they cause significant environmental contamination. 

However, for people who must directly handle remains, such as recovery personnel, or persons identifying 

remains or preparing the remains for burial or cremation, there is a risk of exposure to such viruses or 

bacteria. 

Workers who handle human remains should use the following precautions: 

1. Protect your face from splashes of body fluids and fecal material. You can use a plastic face-shield 

or a combination of eye protection (indirectly vented safety goggles are a good choice if available; 

safety glasses will only provide limited protection) and a surgical mask. In extreme situations, a 

cloth tied over the nose and mouth can be used to block splashes. 

2. Protect your hands from direct contact with body fluids, and also from cuts, puncture wounds, or 

other injuries that break the skin that might be caused by sharp environmental debris or bone 

fragments. A combination of a cut-proof inner layer glove and a latex or similar outer layer is 

preferable. Footwear should similarly protect against sharp debris. 

3. Maintain hand hygiene to prevent transmission of diarrheal and other diseases from fecal materials 

on your hands. Wash your hands with soap and water or with an alcohol-based hand cleaner 

immediately after you remove your gloves. 

4. Give prompt care--including immediate cleansing with soap and clean water, and a tetanus booster 

if indicated--to any wounds sustained during work with human remains. 

5. In addition to guarding physical safety, participate in available programs to provide psychological 

and emotional support for workers handling human remains. Agencies coordinating the 

management of human remains are encouraged to develop programs providing psychological and 

emotional support and care for workers during and after recovery activities. 
Tsunami Disaster: Health Information for Humanitarian Workers

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Other Considerations 

From the public health perspective of lowering the risk of possible infectious disease transmission, there is 

no requirement for mass burials or cremation. Response workers should assist local communities to 

identify a safe location for holding remains awaiting identification. 

This location should be shielded from public view if possible, and remains should be protected from 

scavenging animals. If available, use body bags to contain remains. 

If available, refrigeration can reduce the rate of decay and facilitate identification; however, it is not 

required. The sight and smell of decay are unpleasant, but do not create a public health hazard. 

For additional information regarding health risks related to human remains see PAHO’s web site at 

http://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr040923.htm and WHO’s web site at 

http://www.who.int/hac/techguidance/ems/flood_cds/en/. 

For more information, visit www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/tsunamis, or call the CDC public response hotline 

at 888-246-2675 (English), 888-246-2857 (español), or 866-874-2646 (TTY).