Given the upcoming commemoration of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, the Junín Regional Health Directorate (Diresa) urged the population to avoid eating food inside cemeteries due to the risk of contamination with bacteria and vectors (insects) typical of these spaces.
Mr. Rulli Huamaní, regional coordinator of the Health Surveillance Unit of Cemeteries and Funeral Services, explained that many of these facilities do not have adequate water or hygienic services to guarantee correct hand washing, which increases cases of gastrointestinal diseases (such as diarrhea).
The specialist recalled that health regulations prohibit the consumption of food and drinks inside cemeteries, since these places usually harbor crawling and flying insects that carry dangerous microorganisms (vectors).
“Only five of the 800 public and private cemeteries in the region have health authorization. In the rest there is a high health risk and, in some cases, even illegal trafficking of human remains due to lack of control”he warned.
Huamaní specified that, in addition to insects, the natural processes of decomposition of bodies can generate emanations and attraction of vectors, which aggravates the health risk. For this reason, it recommended that administrators carry out preventive fumigation and enable hand washing points, while visitors should refrain from eating or drinking during their stay.
For his part, the administrator of the General Cemetery of Huancayo, Kevin Iparraguirre, said again that the entry of food and non-alcoholic beverages will be allowed, as well as the presence of traditional orchestras. In addition, he explained that tonight the long-awaited Halloween night tour will take place, with the mysterious stories that the staff experienced. The tour will begin at 7:00 pm and tickets will be sold at the cemetery gate at a cost of 10 soles, it will last between 20 and 25 minutes per group.
