jfp

Journal of Forensic Pathology

ISSN - 2684-1312

Abstract

COVID-19 Pandemic in Zambia: Forensic Pathology's Role

Ben Llyod*

Even though forensic pathology is less visible on the front lines of public health, it is crucial to protecting it by looking into and detecting uncommon infectious disease deaths, as those brought on by COVID-19. Given that forensic pathology is in charge of analyzing sudden, mysterious, or unattended deaths, a doctor, its involvement in disease and mortality surveillance gives information that is helpful to clinicians and epidemiologists. The information includes demographic information, disease severity, and death causes. Using information from forensic pathology can help us better understand the Covid-19 disease and guide public health policies. This essay tries to outline the function of forensic pathology in Zambia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The University Teaching Hospital's forensic pathology service created a screening method for potential COVID-19 infections in brought-in-dead cases undergoing forensic autopsies in response to the confirmation of the first cases of COVID-19 in Zambia. For COVID-19, the screening patients were examined. Notably, the BID that were tested accounts for the majority of COVID-19 deaths reported in Zambia. In order to determine the cause of death and chronicle the severity of the illness during the COVID-19 pandemic, autopsy were performed using forensic pathology methods, adding to the body of knowledge in public health and infectious disease science. In summary, the forensic pathology department has helped with the treatment of COVID-19-infected patients. Through disease surveillance of brought-in-dead cases and mortality analysis, it has also benefited public health.

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