ABSTRACT
The ability to control the spread of infectious diseases has long been a concern for humanity. Prior to the advent of vaccines and antibiotics, many routine infectious diseases could devastate populations. When it comes to infection and disease control public health officials use the terms outbreak, endemic, epidemic, and pandemic. Each transmission of a bacterial and viral agent can lead to mutations that may or may not lead to more virulent strains. Currently, there are multiple strains of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. The primary causes for bacterial and viral mutations include high levels of crowding and population densities along with global trade and ease of international travel. Since 2000, there have been six different pandemics, all of which were viral in origin and most were spread from person to person. As designers of the built environment, we design hospitals, morgues, and funeral homes. Safety measures need to be put in place to protect medical personnel, mortuary attendants, emergency personnel, forensic scientists, embalmers, and funeral directors. Physical and behavioral practices can be implemented to contain and quarantine infectious agents among the living and the dead. This chapter discusses bacterial and viral infections, their transmission, and the care of the sick and deceased.
