Ebola confirmed in the US!

[Mortblanc]

(8 October 2014, 19:15)MaryN Wrote: I do not understand why the bodies of dead ebola patients are still being buried. Wouldn't you think it would be safe to cremate them? Never mind about religious niceties and suchlike, this virus is a disaster.

Many of these people are Islamic. Cremation is forbidden. The bodies must be washed by hand, shrouded and buried within 24 hours.

Touching the departed as a farewell gesture is also a widespread custom in that area.

These burial and funeral customs are one reason why the disease has spread so rapidly through west Africa.

The fear of "improper treatment" of the dead is why so many of the families hide the infected.