With recent reports of the first Ebola-related death inside the United States, questions related to the safe handling of remains of ebola patients may arise. While it is extremely unlikely that any funeral director in Arizona will be faced with this situation in the near future–and presumably state and federal health agencies would be offering additional support related to any Ebola cases–funeral homes should have the latest information to answer any questions you may have. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released the following Guidance for Safe Handling of Human Remains of Ebola Patients in U. S. Hospitals and Mortuaries, which provides recommendations for personnel who perform postmortem care. The Guidance can be found at the following webpage:
CDC Guidance for Handling Human Remains of Ebola Patients
This information is being provided on an informational basis to help answer any questions you may have. As CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden noted in his most recent news conference, the CDC’s recommendations around Ebola are evolving as they learn more about this virus and the best procedures to combat its spread. Therefore, we recommend that you contact the CDC, along with your state epidemiologist, chief medical examiner, and funeral board, for the latest information on this issue.