No Risk of Disease Outbreak or Environmental Contamination from Unburied Cambodian Soldiers' Bodies

Strategic Insights -

Amid concerns over the stench of decomposing Cambodian soldiers' bodies left uncollected along the Thai-Cambodian border, a leading forensic expert has confirmed that the situation poses no risk of disease outbreak or environmental contamination. The Ministry of Public Health received complaints regarding the smell of rotting corpses, following Cambodia's failure to retrieve a large number of its soldiers' bodies after intense border clashes. However, Dr. Tossanai Pipatchotitham, a lecturer in forensic medicine at Thammasat University, has urged the public not to panic, explaining that the situation is far less concerning than feared.

Key Takeaways:

  • Dr. Tossanai Pipatchotitham, a lecturer in forensic medicine at Thammasat University, has assessed the situation and found no risk of disease outbreak or environmental contamination.
  • The smell of rotting corpses is primarily caused by hydrogen sulphide (H2S), also known as "rotten egg gas," which is produced during decomposition.
  • This gas is only dangerous in enclosed, poorly ventilated spaces, which is not the case along the open border area.
  • Disease outbreaks from corpses are typically linked to infectious diseases like cholera, where insects and maggots can act as vectors.
  • For widespread water contamination to occur, a large concentration of corpses would need to be located very near a river or water source, a condition not applicable to the current situation along the Cambodian border.
  • Dr. Tossanai has recommended burial or covering the corpses with lime as the best approach, and has acknowledged the responsibility of the Thai authorities in handling the situation.
  • The corpses have been decomposing for 3 to 5 days, with the smell becoming most noticeable during this period.

Statistics:

  • 48 hours: The amount of time most viruses break down after death and cannot infect others.
  • 3 to 5 days: The period when the smell of rotting corpses becomes most noticeable.
  • 3 to 4 weeks: The time it takes for a body to be reduced to skeletal remains, and the smell to diminish.
  • Hydrogen sulphide (H2S): The gas responsible for the foul smell, also known as "rotten egg gas."

Sources:

  • Dr. Tossanai Pipatchotitham, lecturer in forensic medicine at Thammasat University
  • Tossanai, P. (in text, no date)
  • (No external reference provided)