The role of forensic pathology in the COVID-19 pandemic in Zambia
Although forensic pathology is less visible on the front lines of public health, it plays a significant role in safeguarding public health by investigating and identifying unusual infectious disease deaths such as those caused by COVID-19. Given that forensic pathology is responsible for investigati...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Forensic Science International: Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665910720300979 |
| _version_ | 1811328427404296192 |
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| author | Luchenga Mucheleng’anga Cordilia Himwaze |
| author_facet | Luchenga Mucheleng’anga Cordilia Himwaze |
| author_sort | Luchenga Mucheleng’anga |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although forensic pathology is less visible on the front lines of public health, it plays a significant role in safeguarding public health by investigating and identifying unusual infectious disease deaths such as those caused by COVID-19. Given that forensic pathology is responsible for investigating deaths that are sudden, unexplained, or unattended by a physician, its participation in mortality and disease surveillance contributes data useful to clinicians and epidemiologists. The data provides demographic details, the extent of disease, and causes of death. Utilizing forensic pathology data provides a wealth of information that helps understand the Covid-19 disease and inform public health policy. This paper aims to describe the role of forensic pathology in the COVID-19 pandemic era in Zambia. With the confirmation of the first COVID-19 cases in Zambia, the forensic pathology service developed a screening tool for probable detection of COVID-19 infections in brought-in-dead cases undergoing forensic autopsies at the University Teaching Hospital. The screened cases were tested for COVID-19. Notably, most of the COVID-19 deaths recorded in Zambia are from the BID that were tested. During the COVID-19 pandemic, autopsies were conducted using forensic pathology principles to determine the cause of death and document the extent of disease, thus contributing to the body of knowledge in public health and infectious disease science COVID-19.In conclusion, the forensic pathology service has contributed to the management of patients infected with COVID-19. It has also been useful to public health through mortality and disease surveillance of broughtin- dead cases. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T15:24:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-abfac906c83844c39e5c4a5381aa914b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2665-9107 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T15:24:45Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forensic Science International: Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-abfac906c83844c39e5c4a5381aa914b2022-12-22T02:41:32ZengElsevierForensic Science International: Reports2665-91072020-12-012100147The role of forensic pathology in the COVID-19 pandemic in ZambiaLuchenga Mucheleng’anga0Cordilia Himwaze1Ministry of Home Affairs, Office of the State Forensic Pathologist, Nationalist Road, Lusaka, Zambia; Corresponding author.University Teaching Hospitals, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nationalist Road, Lusaka, ZambiaAlthough forensic pathology is less visible on the front lines of public health, it plays a significant role in safeguarding public health by investigating and identifying unusual infectious disease deaths such as those caused by COVID-19. Given that forensic pathology is responsible for investigating deaths that are sudden, unexplained, or unattended by a physician, its participation in mortality and disease surveillance contributes data useful to clinicians and epidemiologists. The data provides demographic details, the extent of disease, and causes of death. Utilizing forensic pathology data provides a wealth of information that helps understand the Covid-19 disease and inform public health policy. This paper aims to describe the role of forensic pathology in the COVID-19 pandemic era in Zambia. With the confirmation of the first COVID-19 cases in Zambia, the forensic pathology service developed a screening tool for probable detection of COVID-19 infections in brought-in-dead cases undergoing forensic autopsies at the University Teaching Hospital. The screened cases were tested for COVID-19. Notably, most of the COVID-19 deaths recorded in Zambia are from the BID that were tested. During the COVID-19 pandemic, autopsies were conducted using forensic pathology principles to determine the cause of death and document the extent of disease, thus contributing to the body of knowledge in public health and infectious disease science COVID-19.In conclusion, the forensic pathology service has contributed to the management of patients infected with COVID-19. It has also been useful to public health through mortality and disease surveillance of broughtin- dead cases.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665910720300979COVID-19Forensic pathologyDisease and mortality surveillance |
| spellingShingle | Luchenga Mucheleng’anga Cordilia Himwaze The role of forensic pathology in the COVID-19 pandemic in Zambia Forensic Science International: Reports COVID-19 Forensic pathology Disease and mortality surveillance |
| title | The role of forensic pathology in the COVID-19 pandemic in Zambia |
| title_full | The role of forensic pathology in the COVID-19 pandemic in Zambia |
| title_fullStr | The role of forensic pathology in the COVID-19 pandemic in Zambia |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of forensic pathology in the COVID-19 pandemic in Zambia |
| title_short | The role of forensic pathology in the COVID-19 pandemic in Zambia |
| title_sort | role of forensic pathology in the covid 19 pandemic in zambia |
| topic | COVID-19 Forensic pathology Disease and mortality surveillance |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665910720300979 |
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