A pathologist from Bangkok has died from the coronavirus after catching the deadly bug from a corpse that they were checking.
As we all know, the coronavirus, which is also known as COVID-19, is one of the most transmissible diseases the world has ever seen.
In a new development, researchers are now trying to prove a point that people might contract the deadly virus even after the host has died.
A pathologist that is working in a forensic department in Bangkok, Thailand, has died after performing an autopsy on a victim of the deadly bug.
Details of the doctor’s death were revealed later in the Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine.
The letter, written by Won Sriwijitalai of Bangkok’s RVT Medical Center and Viroj Wiwanitkit of India’s DY Patil University, said:
“According to our best knowledge, this is the first report on Covid-19 infection and death among medical personnel in a forensic medicine unit. There is low chance of forensic medicine professionals coming into contact with infected patients, but they can have contact with biological samples and corpses. 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. Nevertheless, the doctors add, ‘infection control and universal precautions are necessary’.”
The study is advising forensic professionals to take extra protective steps when they are dealing with bodies that are confirmed to have the virus or if they are suspected to have the bug.
Forensic professionals are being asked to wear full PPE including suit, gloves, goggles, cap, and a mask.
Health professionals are now asking forensic and pathology experts all over the world to take precautionary steps that will help them stop contracting the virus.
A comment from a World Health organization spokesman said:
“To date there is no evidence of persons having become infected from exposure to the bodies of persons who died from Covid-19.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased.