Scientists confirm first spread of coronavirus from dead body

Coronavirus scientists have confirmed first spread of the disease from a dead body.

According to the Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine Study, a medical examiner in Thailand picked up the deadly virus from an infected body in March.

The study, published Sunday, claims it is the first report on "COVID-19 infection and death among medical personnel in a Forensic Medicine unit."

Won Sriwijitalai of the RVT Medical Center in Bangkok and Viroj Wiwanitkit of Hainan Medical University in China, the authors of the study, said forensic medicine professionals have a low chance of coming into contact with infected patients.

But there is a chance they can come in contact with "biological samples and corpses."

As of March 10, a forensic medicine professional and a nurse assistant were among COVID-19 patients in Thailand.

The authors wrote: "At present, there is no data on the exact number of COVID-19 contaminated corpses since it is not a routine practice to examine for COVID-19 in dead bodies in Thailand."

According to John Hopkins University data, the accumulated number of coronavirus cases in Thailand - the second country to be affected by COVID-19 - is now 2,579.

"Nevertheless, infection control and universal precautions are necessary. Forensic professionals have to wear protective devices including a protective suit, gloves, goggles, cap and mask," the authors added.

"The disinfection procedure used in operation rooms might be applied in pathology/forensic units too."

As morgues across countries become overwhelmed, funeral and medical workers have become fearful of dead bodies potentially carrying COVID-19.

Previously, on March 25, Thailand's Department of Medical Services claimed that people cannot carry COVID-19 after they die.

The World Health Organization explains: "Except in cases of hemorrhagic fevers (such as Ebola, Marburg) and cholera, dead bodies are generally not infectious.


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