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Care of Ebola-Infected Human Remains

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Bioemergency Planning

Abstract

The postmortem care of patients who have died from the Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a high-risk procedure, and during the 2014–2016 EVD outbreak in West Africa, care of the deceased was associated with the spread of the disease, requiring the implementation of strict safe burial practices to assist in controlling the outbreak.

Healthcare facilities that have a potential to provide care for patients with EVD or other viral hemorrhagic fever should be prepared to understand the guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the containment, transportation, and disposition of Ebola virus-infected human remains and to adapt the guidance to meet their own unique circumstances. This chapter discusses the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit Process that was employed during the 2014–2016 EVD outbreak and highlights key concepts in preparing to provide dignified and safe postmortem care for patients who succumb to the disease.

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Correspondence to Kate Boulter .

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Boulter, K., Vasa, A. (2018). Care of Ebola-Infected Human Remains. In: Hewlett, A., K. Murthy, A. (eds) Bioemergency Planning. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77032-1_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77032-1_11

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-77031-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-77032-1

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