Background and Objective Nearly half of million have been reported dead after earthquakes in recent 20 years, and many people always concern seriously about whether those corpses pose a risk to epidemics after earthquakes. An evidence-based approach was conducted to assess the relationship between dead bodies and epidemic disease outbreak systematically.
Methods We searched PubMed, The Cochrane Library (Issue 1, 2008), CNKI and WHO website and screened the references of eligible studies.
Results A total of 10 papers published beween 1988 to 2007 were included for final analysis, including 2 editorials, 4 reviews and 4 technical reports (technical note or manual). The risk factors for epidemic outbreak after earthquakes were associated primarily with safe water, food and sanitation facilities, as well as the density of population, and no evidence was found that those corpses would pose a risk to the outbreak. But standard infection control precautions should be observed when human corpses were handled.
Conclusion Management of dead bodies should be brought into the emergency preparedness system, disaster manuals and guidelines. A community-centered approach to informing communities about the management of the dead following earthquake is also needed. Meanwhile, the myth of about dead bodies and disease outbreak should be dispelled.
Citation： KANG Deying,HONG Qi,LI Youping,HU Dan,WEI Maoling. Management of Dead Bodies and Epidemic Control after Earthquake—— An Evidence- Based Approach. Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine, 2008, 08(8): 575-580. doi: 10.7507/1672-2531.20080131 Copy