University of Tokyo research team “Escalation, helping to seal the opening with cotton swabs”
A study has found that embalming the body of a deceased person who died of COVID-19 or sealing the eyes, nose, and mouth (openings) with cotton swabs can prevent the spread of infection and allow family members to safely and respectfully say their final goodbyes to the deceased.
A research team at the University of Tokyo Medical School in Japan studied the risk of corona infection and how to prevent the spread of infection in hamsters that died after being infected with Corona 19. As a result, it was found that the virus titers of hamsters that died after corona infection were very high. However, it turned out that the spread of the virus can be prevented by sanitarily preserving the hamster carcass or blocking the opening with a cotton swab.
After the Corona 19 pandemic (pandemic), many people around the world had to sadly send away their loved ones who died after corona infection without even having a proper funeral. In most countries, contact with the body of the deceased has been banned, which has adversely affected funeral and cremation practices. Many people complained of mental pain.
There have been reports that coronavirus has been found in people who have died from corona infection, but it was not clear whether the virus could come out of the body of the deceased and infect others. In Japan, nurses perform aftercare or angel care, such as cleaning the body skin of a dead person, shaving, or applying chemicals. In addition, the opening is closed with a cotton swab to prevent leakage of the body fluids of the deceased. In the United States and Canada, bodies are embalmed to prevent decay. Embalming has recently become popular in Japan as well.
The research team treated hamsters that died after corona infection with embalming treatment (7% formaldehyde, 4% glutaraldehyde) or angel care. A healthy hamster was infected with the dead hamster’s coronavirus. The virus was especially found in the hamster’s lungs and turbinates (the bones that make up the shelf of the nose). Angel Care effectively prevented infection by preventing the leakage of gas or bodily fluids from the body. The embalming treatment showed a similar infection prevention effect.
Professor Yoshihiro Kawaoka (virology), co-author of the study, said, “Infectious viruses can be infected through post-mortem gas generated during decomposition or post-mortem changes in the corpse, but infection can be prevented by embalming or angel care.” “With proper precautions and guidelines, I think at least the family will be able to get a proper look at their loved ones who are leaving forever,” he added.
The results of this study (SARS-CoV-2 Transmission from Virus-Infected Dead Hamsters) were published in the international journal ≪mSphere≫.
