Deceased Management

Notification of disinterment

In compliance with the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002, S.O. 2002, c. 33, O. Reg 30/11, sections 162 (3), (17), 1(18), notification of disinterment must be made to the local Medical Officer of Health.

Funeral professionals can use our online form to notify Durham Region Health Department of the disinterment of a corpse without the listed communicable diseases below:

Anthrax
Ebola virus disease
Haemorrhagic fevers (other viral causes)
Lassa fever
Marburg virus disease
Plague
Smallpox

For assistance completing this form, please contact the Durham Health Connection Line.

Submit notification of disinterment

Management of corpses with specific communicable diseases

Under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, there are requirements to properly manage corpses with the following communicable diseases:

Anthrax
Ebola virus disease
Haemorrhagic fevers (other viral causes)
Lassa fever
Marburg virus disease
Plague
Smallpox

The Health Department is required to approve requests for corpse removal, opening of a body bag/casket/container, disinterment and/or shipment of a deceased person who was confirmed, suspected, or isolated for having a specific communicable disease, as listed above.

Note: The Health Department may restrict the attendance of persons at the funeral of a corpse having a specific communicable disease as listed above.

Apply for approval to manage a corpse with a specific communicable disease

It is important to handle corpses as per O. Reg. 557 to prevent transmission of disease to others involved in their handling.

The frequently asked questions below are intended for settings that may handle corpses, such as: funeral homes, burial establishments, body transfer services and sites, cemeteries, coroners, acute care facilities and other institutional settings.

Frequently asked questions

Which communicable diseases require proper corpse management and/or approval for corpse removal, opening of a body bag/casket/container, disinterment and/or shipment?

Anthrax
Ebola virus disease
Haemorrhagic fevers (other viral causes)
Lassa fever
Marburg virus disease
Plague
Smallpox

How can I apply for approval to manage a corpse with one of the seven specific communicable diseases?

Use our online application form.
Call the Durham Health Connection Line and speak with a public health inspector.

What documentation is acceptable to confirm if a corpse was confirmed, suspected, or isolated for having a specific communicable disease as listed above?

Death certificate, medical certificate of death, statement of death.
Written attestation from the next of kin, e.g., spouse, family member (if death certificate/medical certificate of death/statement of death is not available).

What are the responsibilities of a person or an establishment having custody of a corpse having a specific communicable disease as listed above?

Place the corpse in at least two leak-proof body bags, each one being at least 150 µm (micrometer) thick, as soon as possible.
Place the corpse and body bags in a soundly constructed casket or cremation container, immediately.
If the deceased person was infected with smallpox or anthrax, the casket or cremation container must be hermetically sealed, as soon as possible.
Once a corpse has been placed in the body bags and casket or cremation container these must not be opened unless approved by the local health department.
A corpse must not be removed from the location where the individual has died until there has been compliance with 1 and 2 above, and 3 as applicable.
The local health department may direct that a corpse be taken directly to the place of burial or cremation.
The corpse must not be embalmed or undergo hygienic preparation/treatment.
Only a coroner may conduct a post-mortem examination as required.

What is the proper shipping/transportation criteria of a corpse having a specific communicable disease listed above?

The corpse must be enclosed in a soundly constructed casket or cremation container approved by the local health department.
If the corpse is being transported by commercial carrier of any kind, the casket or cremation container must be enclosed in an outer case that is sufficiently strong to ensure it (including hermetical sealing, as applicable) will not be broken during transportation.

How do I know which health unit has jurisdiction to approve a request or ensure the regulation is complied with?

The health unit in which the person died has jurisdiction to receive requests for approvals for corpse removal, opening of a body bag/casket/container, disinterment and/or shipment, and ensuring the regulation is complied with.

Examples:

A person died of anthrax in a Toronto hospital and the funeral home/burial site is located in Durham Region. The funeral home in Durham Region must submit an application for approval to manage the corpse with Toronto Public Health.
A disinterment is required for a corpse that was infected with smallpox. The cemetery is located in Durham Region and the corpse must be shipped out of the country. The cemetery must submit an application for approval to manage the corpse with Durham Region Health Department.