Burial rites: Epidemiologists warn Nigerians against unsafe corpse handling

Citing the risk of infections, epidemiologists have warned Nigerians who are not morticians against improper handling of corpses before and during burial rites.

They explained that handling corpses without proper protective measures could expose people to infectious diseases, particularly when the deceased died from an infectious condition.

The experts explained that untrained people who handle dead bodies in preparation for burial rites may come into contact with blood, body fluids, or other potentially infectious agents secreted by the corpse if appropriate precautions are not taken.

The epidemiologists raised the concern while reacting to burial rites that involve handling corpses in ways that may pose health risks.

PUNCH Healthwise reports that in some communities, dead bodies may be washed, touched repeatedly, or displayed openly during funeral activities.

In several instances, mourners and relatives also have close contact with the deceased before burial.

But speaking exclusively to PUNCH Healthwise, a Professor of Public Health and Epidemiologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Adebayo Onajole, warned that such practices can increase the risk of spreading infections, particularly when the person died from a contagious disease.

According to him, relatives and mourners may not always know the cause of death or whether the body could still pose a health risk.

The epidemiologist urged families, funeral handlers, and other people involved in burial arrangements to observe basic infection prevention measures when handling corpses.

Onajole said, “Without established barriers, people tend to come into contact with the body fluids of a dead person. In whatever position you are coming into contact with a corpse that may have body fluid excretion, you must be very careful about transmission.

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“In our society, a lot of people who carry corpses during burials are not protected or do not adhere to protective measures. With that, they can end up carrying infection from that point to their families and to their communities if the corpse died of an infectious disease.”

The public health expert stressed the need for proper protective measures and adequate disinfection of materials used in handling corpses.

“So, in such a situation, Nigerians have to be careful when they come in contact with a corpse, including all the clothing that the dead body has come in contact with,” Onajole added.

He noted that cultural and religious burial rites can still be respected while taking steps to protect mourners and the wider community.

Also speaking, a Public Health Physician, Dr Austine Aipoh, said the circumstances surrounding deaths of corpses play a major role in the risk of infection spread.

He said, “It’s not all deaths that are problematic, but if the person dies of a communicable disease, especially highly communicable diseases like cholera or Ebola, there is a possibility.”

Aipoh, who is the National President of the Healthcare Providers’ Association of Nigeria, stressed the need for families and communities to follow safe burial practices.

He listed the safe burial practices to include proper handling and transportation of corpses and the use of protective measures when necessary.

The public health physician also called for greater public awareness and adherence to established health guidelines to protect mourners, handlers, and the wider community from avoidable infections.