Handling bones can be deadly

People dealing with human bones risk contracting viral and other infections that could kill them, pathologist, Dr. Charles Dzamalala, has warned.

In an interview on Tuesday, Dzamalala further warned that such activities are also detrimental to the environment.

“It should be noted that body and body fluids of the deceased patient remain contagious for some time after burial. After burial, viruses continue to reproduce, although the total number of viral cells decreases exponentially as the body decays,” he explained.

Dzamalala, therefore, warned that anyone involved in exhuming corpses, especially where no protective gear is used, is at high risk of contagious diseases and infections.

He said persons with reduced immunity are more susceptible to such infections and should ensure they do not come into contact with decomposing bodies.

He cited hepatitis B as one of the most transmissible blood-borne viruses and it can produce a chronic infection that places the individual at risk of death from chronic liver disease or primary hepatocellular carcinoma and other liver conditions.

“It’s for this particular reason that we discourage family and community members from touching and washing the dead to prevent them from contracting infections. Let me also advise police officers to protect themselves when they recover human bones. Never touch them with bare hands!”

He singled out wounds resulting from objects contaminated with blood or blood fluid or needle-stick injury and splash of blood or other body fluids onto an open wound or area of dermatitis as some of the routes that usually transmit infections.

Others are contact of blood or other body fluids with mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, mouth and inhalation and ingestion of aerosol (splash) particles.

But Group Village Head Ntaja doubted if the people involved seek medical attention.

Said Ntaja: “In fact, those that have been caught or found in possession of human bones do not use gloves when handling them. They use bare hands.

“We must also note that most of the people involved in this business are illiterate and not well versed with infection transmission.”