Burying Ebola Victims

[Sparkles62]

We keep seeing pictures of Ebola victims being buried by people in bio hazard suits, if this disease is so virulent, why are they burying the bodies and not burning them?
Are they not risking the disease getting into the water table by burying infected bodies?

[Sqad]

Good question Sparkles.

It doesn't matter a damn whether the bodies are buried or cremated as transmitted infection from dead bodies is low.

Water is a good point that you make and the authorities do know about this and burial sites are chosen with that in mind.

Amongst many other facts not known for sure about the Ebola virus, one is the lenth of time that it remains virulent once outside the body.

[marval]

We have the same question, I would have thought cremation was better.

[Prudie]

Do they have crematoriums in West Africa or our we talking foot and mouth style pyres?

[Jomlett]

2 months ago...Ebola victims' bodies must be cremated not buried to stop killer disease spreading warn officials.. http://mirr.im/1ssLznp

[Sparkles62]

Jomlett, thanks for the link, I hadn't seen that in the papers.
Prudie, I wouldn't expect there to be crematoria, as we have, but surely funeral pyres, or pits would be a better way of disposal than just burying the bodies.

[Prudie]

Well it's not very pleasant to think about but I think you're right sparkles.

[jno]

cemeteries aren't usually dug where there's a danger of anything leaking in to the water, as Sqad says. Some New Orleans cemeteries have everyone buried in plinths above ground, as I recall, in case the Mississippi floods.

[harrylggy]

There is nothing to do without this. If they are not buried , then those bodies will spread the virus to other non-affected people.