Dec 7 2004
The World Health Organization (WHO) has advised that the bodies of people who die in floods and other natural disasters do not normally pose a risk of infection and there is no need to dispose of them in mass graves. The advice was issued followed reports that victims of back-to-back storms in north-eastern Philippines were being hurriedly buried.
"There is no need for such measures," said Dr Arturo Pesigan, head of WHO's Emergency and Humanitarian Action. "Survivors, and not the dead, are more likely to be the source of disease outbreaks unless an effective strategy focused on primary health care for the survivors and their families is prioritized, including the provision of safe water and food."
Dr Pesigan added that identification of the body and the normal process of grieving are essential for prompt individual recovery from the severe stress caused by sudden natural disasters and personal losses. "The inability to mourn a relative can contribute to the many potential health problems associated with disasters and the difficult rehabilitation process that follows," he said.
In the Philippines, a tropical storm at the end of November, followed by a typhoon, triggered landslides and floods that killed hundreds of people and made thousands more homeless. WHO has mobilized US$ 20,000 to support the assessment of urgent health needs and is on standby to supply medical kits if needed.