Post by Lex Hurley on Nov 21, 2016 22:22:09 GMT
Given that the virus used in this mock outbreak scenario was "even smaller pox", one can readily assume that this new disease will spread much the same way as smallpox and that any clothes or items that infected persons have touched or that have bodily fluids on them are contagious vectors of the virus -- as well as the body of the person after death (with the same CFR as Ebola). In a case such as this where the bodies of those who have succumbed to an illness are infectious hazards, is it permissable or legal to burn them without family consent as a precautionary means of reducing the spread of the disease?
If not, I would see the transportation and housing of these infected bodies as significant health risks to medical professionals and others, thereby increasing the possibility of future spreading. Further, the rooms or containers in which the bodies are held will subsequently be huge biohazards that would need to be sanitized at great length to ensure that no one becomes accidentally infected at some point in the future. At the risk of sounding callous, it seems like it would be much simpler and safer to cremate or burn the bodies until the chaos of the epidemic is over and affected cities can get back on their feet again, but I'm not sure if there are issues of human rights that remain active even in emergency epidemic situations.
If not, I would see the transportation and housing of these infected bodies as significant health risks to medical professionals and others, thereby increasing the possibility of future spreading. Further, the rooms or containers in which the bodies are held will subsequently be huge biohazards that would need to be sanitized at great length to ensure that no one becomes accidentally infected at some point in the future. At the risk of sounding callous, it seems like it would be much simpler and safer to cremate or burn the bodies until the chaos of the epidemic is over and affected cities can get back on their feet again, but I'm not sure if there are issues of human rights that remain active even in emergency epidemic situations.
