Dr. John Watson, the primary author of this study, works for WHO as a medical epidemiologist with the Disease Control in Humanitarian Emergencies Program (this program is the one providing technical and operational support for the study). In his work, he particularly studies respiratory disease and tuberculosis, focusing on surveillance, prevention and control. He is a Chairman of the International Society for Influenza.
The article emphasizes the need for a disaster-preparedness plan, with pre-existing infrastructure to address trauma and mass casualty management, as well as long-term sources of clean water and waste disposal. Assured primary healthcare and wide-spread vaccination usage help with these efforts.
Post-disaster, there will need to be intervention to ensure that these standards are being met, as well as surveillance for communicable diseases.
It appeared to be mostly a compilation-based study, amassing and comparing previously completed research to reach the conclusion and build the argument in the paper. Primarily, the author cited outside sources for all of the “heavy-lifting” science, and was primarily drawing the over-arching conclusion about the relationship between natural disasters and epidemics.
“Despite these facts, the risk for outbreaks after disasters is frequently exaggerated by both health offi cials and the media. Imminent threats of epidemics remain a recurring theme of media reports from areas recently affected by disasters, despite attempts to dispel these myths.”
“The risk for communicable disease transmission after disasters is associated primarily with the size and characteristics of the population displaced, specifi cally the proximity of safe water and functioning latrines, the nutritional status of the displaced population, the level of immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, and the access to healthcare services”
“Disaster-related deaths are overwhelmingly caused by the initial traumatic impact of the event. Disaster-preparedness plans, appropriately focused on trauma and mass casualty management, should also take into account the health needs of the surviving disaster-affected populations.”
More studies referencing corpses and their effects on epidemics
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/hygiene/envsan/tn08/en/
Emergency preparedness in developing nations
How EMS deals epidemics
There is no evidence that corpses cause or spread disease following a natural disaster. There would have to be more direct circumstances for potential damage from corpses.
The risk associated with epidemics is correlated to the population displaced and affected by infrastructure.
The most commun post-natural disaster diseases are related to water contamination and crowding. While corpses could potential contaminate water, because the population is displaced the corpses likely won't contaminate the new water source, but the overcrowded displaced population will. Some of such disease include Hepatitis A and E, Leptospirosis, and measles. Meninginitis and Acute Respiratory Infections can also develop if vaccinations are not prevelant there.
It was produced and published by WHO, but I don't have an opinion developed enough to learn anything from that. It is a well known name.
Epidemics following natural disasters do not occur because of chaos or dead bodies, which was thought to be the root cause. The primary cause of illness is actually population displacement, and the disruptions in food supply, sanitation, and availability of healthcare that it causes.
Negligible risk for epidemics after geophysical disasters
Narrative review: tetanus—a health threat after natural disasters in developing countries
Infectious diseases following natural disasters: prevention and control measures
Use of mobile phones in an emergency reporting system for infectious disease surveillance after the Sichuan earthquake in China