SEATTLE -- As the known death toll from Sunday's tsunamis rises by the hour, health officials face one of their most urgent and emotional tasks: disposing of human and animal remains before deadly diseases such as cholera threaten the living.
"Bodies of small children and adults litter the shoreline," said Jayanth
Vincent, World Vision relief worker based in Chennai (formerly Madras), India.
"They're being buried in mass graves -- often before they have been identified
by loved ones."
More than 22,000 people are known dead, but that figure is expected to
rise significantly as more bodies are discovered in ditches, trees and flood
debris. Meanwhile, people search hospitals and makeshift morgues in search of
missing relatives.
"Survivors face trauma upon trauma," said Vincent. "They've lost sons,
daughters, mothers and fathers -- and often they're robbed of the chance to
even pay respects at their graves." Burial itself is an anomaly in Hindu
tradition, which calls for cremation within two days of death. However,
Vincent said wood is in too short supply to build funeral pyres for all the
victims.
Of lesser concern are the carcasses of animals drowned by the tsunami.
Vincent said if the waves had reached further inland to agricultural areas,
many more livestock would have been lost.
In the early hours of the disaster, World Vision staff worked alongside
community members in rescue and recovery efforts. As government officials
take the lead in this grim task, World Vision staff are providing food,
shelter and care to the survivors.
Source: World Vision
The Next Frontier in Infection Control: AI-Driven Operating Rooms
Published: July 15th 2025 | Updated: July 15th 2025Discover how AI-powered sensors, smart surveillance, and advanced analytics are revolutionizing infection prevention in the OR. Herman DeBoard, PhD, discusses how these technologies safeguard sterile fields, reduce SSIs, and help hospitals balance operational efficiency with patient safety.
Targeting Uncertainty: Why Pregnancy May Be the Best Time to Build Vaccine Confidence
July 15th 2025New national survey data reveal high uncertainty among pregnant individuals—especially first-time parents—about vaccinating their future children, underscoring the value of proactive engagement to strengthen infection prevention.
CDC Urges Vigilance: New Recommendations for Monitoring and Testing H5N1 Exposures
July 11th 2025With avian influenza A(H5N1) infections surfacing in both animals and humans, the CDC has issued updated guidance calling for aggressive monitoring and targeted testing to contain the virus and protect public health.
IP LifeLine: Layoffs and the Evolving Job Market Landscape for Infection Preventionists
July 11th 2025Infection preventionists, once hailed as indispensable during the pandemic, now face a sobering reality: budget pressures, hiring freezes, and layoffs are reshaping the field, leaving many IPs worried about their future and questioning their value within health care organizations.