dead bodies

[prem84]

can hiv be transmitted by handling the dead bodies. as in religious way the dead body has to be taken bath by most of the relatives and noone is taking the precaution such as wearing gloves as such. after that the dead body is burnt near the lake or river and in same river the ashes of the dead body is givenup

[JeanClaude]

When handling dead bodies, Universial Precautions should be utilized but not specifically due to HIV

[Teak]

Go to the Expert Forum HIV Prevent and pay your money.

[prem84]

sorry but i wanna expert suggestion as of like Dr. Handsfield's suggestion , i m really worried and i need to sort it out. whats the procedure  to ask them

[Teak]

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[joggen]

Sorry, I have no references. I am only going by what I understand about the biology of the virus and the biology of death, and from what I understand it would be impossible for there to be any infectious virus present in a corpse. For example, during necrosis, cells spill their contents and release proteolytic enzymes and acid from vacuoles. The virus is extremely fragile and could not survive these changes.

I am entirely sure that both doctors on this site would agree and I vaguely remember a question posed from someone working in a funeral parlor in which the assessment was no risk, but unfortunately I could not find the thread.

You will just have to take my word for it or believe whatever the nari people tell you. I really have nothing more to say. I was going to just dismiss your post since it is quite odd on the surface but read that you live in India, so answered out of respect for your culture.

Good luck.

[joggen]

"UNIVERSAL SAFTEY PRECATION SHOULD BE TAKEN WHILE HANDLING THE DEAD BODIES "

That obviously makes sense but for the last time, to answer your specific question, no HIV risk even if such precautions are breached.

[joggen]

What you read was incorrect. The virus can only survive under the physiological conditions of a living body. Once death ensues, the virus would be inactivated with changes in temp, pH, etc. that would occur.

To put it another way, even if you were handling body fluids and secretions of a living person infected with HIV, there would still be no risk for the same reason- the virus cannot survive outside of a living host.

I can assure you there is no HIV risk from anything that you have described. Regarding other infectious agents that would be present in a rotting corpse, I am not as certain.

[prem84]

in NARI SITE THEY HAVE WRITTEN THAT NO ATTEMPT SHOULD BE MADE TO BATH DEAD BODIES AS IN RELIGIOUS WAY. UNIVERSAL SAFTEY PRECATION SHOULD BE TAKEN WHILE HANDLING THE DEAD BODIES CAN U DISCUSS SOMEONE WITH THIS ISSUE AS MY PARENTS ARE REGULARLY ATTENDIN THE DEATH CEREMONY ANYONE WHO IS DEAD AS A SOCIAL WORKER

[prem84]

but i have read that person dying with hiv has a tremondous amout of infectious virus he is dying because of many disease, and that fluid is really dangerous and in corpse it can survive upto 12 to a5 days so at the time of death the body fluid and secretion came out it is washed during bathing plz give me the detils if u can plz sir

[joggen]

I guess I should have said: a (living) person who is infected with the virus.

[joggen]

The virus needs a LIVE host to survive. Nobody has ever contracted HIV through ritual burials such as those you have described. It is only transmitted through unprotected vaginal or anal sex or sharing needles with a (living) person.