North Carolina Funeral Law Practice Exam

Which disease classification disallows embalming directly and requires the body to be placed in a tightly sealed container?

1. Influenza

2. Smallpox

3. Tuberculosis

4. COVID-19

The correct answer is: Smallpox

The correct answer relates to the disease classification of Smallpox, which is classified as a highly contagious and potentially lethal viral disease. Smallpox is known to pose significant risks of transmission, and because of its severe public health implications, strict handling protocols are in place. When it comes to the handling of deceased individuals who were infected with Smallpox, embalmers are required to adhere to specific safety regulations that disallow embalming. This is primarily due to the potential for the virus to remain viable in the body and the associated risk of transmitting the virus during embalming procedures. Instead, the body must be placed in a tightly sealed container, which effectively isolates it from the environment, thus minimizing the risk of any potential spread of the virus to other individuals and ensuring public safety. In contrast, while diseases like Influenza, Tuberculosis, and COVID-19 also have their own guidelines for handling deceased individuals, they do not carry the same level of restriction regarding embalming and isolation as Smallpox does. Each of these diseases may have specific protocols, but they generally do not mandate the same stringent measures due to their lower classification in terms of contagious severity compared to Smallpox.