Dead bodies no threat to disaster victims: WHO

                   
terradaily.com     May 17, 2008            

by Staff Writers Manila (AFP) May 16, 2008 Contrary to popular belief, dead bodies left from natural disasters such as the China earthquake and Myanmar cyclone are not a source of disease or a health threat to survivors, the World Health Organisation said Friday. Rather, a lack of safe water... [read full story]                

Full Coverage
                   

Attend to living, not dead, after disasters - WHO

alertnet.org     May 16, 2008          

WASHINGTON, May 16 (Reuters) - Getting clean water to survivors of a disaster is far more important than disposing of the dead, but myths persist that corpses somehow spread disease, the World Health Organization said on Friday. The U.N. health agency issued a statement after learning that...                

comments

                   

Attend to living, not dead, after disasters - WHO

thestar.com.my     May 16, 2008          

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Getting clean water to survivors of a disaster is far more important than disposing of the dead, but myths persist that corpses somehow spread disease, the World Health Organization said on Friday. The U.N. health agency issued a statement after learning that Chinese rescue...                

comments

                   

China disaster operations shift to collecting the dead

usatoday.com     May 18, 2008          

BEICHUAN, China (AP) -- The search for survivors in the rubble of China's powerful earthquake grew bleak Sunday, with rescuers in some areas no longer listening for trapped victims while growing rows of decomposing bodies lined the streets of shattered cities. There were a few tales of rescues...                

comments

                   

Attend living and sanitation, not dead, to prevent post-disaster epidemic

reliefweb.int     May 19, 2008          

This is untrue. The micro-organisms responsible for the decomposition of bodies are not capable of causing disease in living people. Unsafe food and a lack of access to safe water, facilities for personal hygiene and safe sanitation arrangements all create a real risk for outbreaks of infectious...                

comments