Transmission Of COVID Through The Dead Unlikely: Here's What AIIMS Study Finds
Fear of transmission of COVID-19 from the dead has posed a challenge for many who tried to perform the last rites of their family members who died from Covid.?A recent study by All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) might mitigate the issue as it found that transmission of the infection through the dead is highly unlikely.
Coronavirus doesn't remain active in nasal and oral cavities 12 to 24 hours after the death of an infected person as a result of which the risk of transmission from the deceased is highly unlikely, AIIMS Forensic chief Dr Sudhir Gupta said.
Pilot study was conducted
A pilot study was conducted over the last one year in the Department of Forensic Medicine at AIIMS on COVID-19 positive medico-legal cases which were subjected to post-mortem.
"Around 100 bodies were re-tested for coronavirus infection in an interval of 12 to 24 hours after death and the result was negative. The virus does not remain active at all in nasal and oral cavities 24 hours after death," Dr Gupta told PTI.
Reports of locals stopping families of Covid victims from performing last rites in the fear of transmission emerged several times during the pandemic. Since the beginning of the pandemic, experts have repeatedly said transmission of the infection is unlikely from the dead.?
"Follow precautions"
For safety purposes, he said, nasal and oral cavities should be plugged to prevent leakage of body fluids or other orifices or punctures resulting from removal of catheter, drains, tubes should be disinfected.
Also as a precautionary measure, people handling such bodies should wear protective gear such as masks, gloves and PPE kits."Collection of bones and ashes is completely safe as there is no risk of transmission of infection from the mortal remains," Gupta said."The study was conducted in the interest of preserving the dignity of the dead," he stated.
Non-invasive autopsy techniques, as described in guidelines, should be used, if at all required, to prevent the risk of spreading the infection to mortuary staff, police personnel and contamination of mortuary surfaces, the guidelines stated."If the autopsy surgeon feels that he will not be able to conclude cause of death or any other related issue without dissection, then he can proceed with minimal invasive/limited internal dissection.
"However, the dissection has to be performed keeping in mind that the conduction of autopsy is a high-risk procedure which is potentially as hazardous as any other procedure performed on the body of a Covid-19 patient," the guidelines said, listing the precautions to be followed while conducting an autopsy by adopting proper infection control measures.
