Can anyone get Tuberculosis if the person is dead?
My uncle is a person who is going to carry the casket of a dead person who died from Tuberculosis. Will the TB spread to him? Or is he safe?
Infectious Diseases - 19 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
The TB died with the person
2 :
Yes don't even go to the funeral everyone who does will get it.
3 :
One, the embalming fluid will destroy any bacteria and viruses. Two, caskets are air, and therefore microorganism, tight. Those are the two most important factors.
4 :
it shouldnt because the autopsy ppl should have contained the disease to use as a vaccine for some1 that is sick.
5 :
Its safe .because the person is already died there is no form of airborne contact.
6 :
is very dificul somebody dead of tuberculosis today
7 :
He is non-infectious since he is not breathing anymore. TB is spread thru the air when he would breathe so obviously he is not breathing so there is no chance he is infecting anyone anymore.
8 :
unless you're the coroner and don't wash your hands like you should.... then no tb is an airborne disease
9 :
God no... TB is not an airborne virus.. it's spread through mucus and body fluids... the dead person has been embalmed and is inside of a casket.. there is no chance of contracting TB... all these people on here saying it's an airborne disease are wrong... someone would literally have to cough in your face, and even then it would be tough to get...
10 :
No one can get tuberculosis when they are dead, and no your uncle cannot get it, if the person who had tuberculosis was near ur uncle when he or she was not dead, there is a possibility.
11 :
no, if a person dies they take out the blood and orgnas anyways before they bury the person. so you should have nothing to worry about and even if you get TB it is easly treatable...i have had it and they gave me a shot and anti-biotics you should be fine
12 :
Very unlikely. Tb is usually spread through aerosolized droplets that are exhaled from an infected person. As long as the deceased isn't breathing, he/she won't be contagious. I'd also recommend against dismembering or ingesting any part of the deceased, because there probably is live TB in masses in his/her lungs. BTW klepticsy is flat wrong. TB is a bacterium that is spread through the air.
13 :
well, TB is spread by coughing, but I would take precautions.
14 :
chances are its not possible
15 :
Even at the slimmest chance of the TB bacteria remaining alive after the carrier has passed on, TB is spread through the infected person exhaling, sneezing, or coughing the bacteria into the air, and then others breathing it in. Since dead people do none of the three things above, any remaining bacteria would be stuck in the lungs of the deceased person. Also, the vast majority of coffins produced these days are usually tightly sealed, to the point where air cannot even get in. Your uncle is perfectly safe.
16 :
hes safe because they embalm the body anyhow. If that was true, they couldnt go to the morgue.Your uncle is safe. :)
17 :
TB is an Airborne virus and no you can not get it at a funeral. Unless someone else at the funeral has it and coughs and you breathe the spores from it. TB is a very serious disease and horrible to die from. My condolences to your associates. EDIT--> Method of Invasion (Transmission) Transmission of TB usually occurs by an airborne or aerosol route but can also occur through the gastrointestinal tract. Coughing by humans or animals with active TB produce droplet nuclei containing one to three organisms. This TB-containing droplet nuclei can remain suspended in the air for several hours. Infection will occur if inhalation results in the organism(s) reaching the alveolus of the lungs. M.bovis transmission from cattle to humans has occurred through drinking contaminated milk. Only one-in-ten immunocompetent people infected with M.Tb will develop active disease in their lifetime and therefore don t transmit the organism. In contrast, nearly all cattle infected with M. bovis develop active disease and can transmit the organism to other animals or humans. Among generally healthy persons, infection with TB is highly likely to be clinically unapparent. As mentioned, the lifetime risk of developing clinically evident TB after being infected is approximately 10%, however, in specific subpopulations such as infants or persons with immunodeficiency states, the proportion who develop clinical TB is much higher. for more info on the above referenced info please visit http://tjclarkco.com/bacterial_diseases/tuberculosis.asp?cpc=283aec0da7c32860e6c61e49b20b1217&m=1
18 :
As an embalmer, I can tell you that yes, it is possible to contract TB from a dead human body. When we move and reposition the body prior to embalming, if they have TB and air is expelled from the lungs, (TB is spread via droplet infection), it is possible to contract the disease. There are documented cases of embalmers contracting TB this way. That is why it is vital that we cover the mouth of every deceased person while moving/rolling/positioning them BEFORE embalming, we act as if everyone has a communicable disease. The embalming process DOES kill it, so there is no need to worry at the viewing or being a pallbearer.
19 :
Ripper, thanks for e-mailing me about your question. Your uncle and all the other pallbearers are perfectly safe. Take care, hear
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