The University of the Philippines Manila with the Sherlock Institute of Forensic Science (SIFS India) and the Universitas Ahmad Dalan (UAD) Indonesia, held on July 1 a webinar on the role of forensics in pandemics. Speakers were Dr. Nurfitria Swastiningsih (UAD); Dr. Corazon De Ungria, Natural Sciences Research Institute , UP Diliman; and Dr. Ranjeet Kr. Singh, SIFS, India.
Challenges of Forensic DNA Testing during a pandemic
Since COVID-19 is infectious, law enforcement agencies and forensic practitioners must be extra careful in getting evidence from viral-positive individuals (whether asymptomatic or symptomatic); in handling, storing, analyzing biological samples; and in cleaning up laboratories. The work of forensic DNA teams are samplecollection, sample processing, DNA extraction, and DNA testing. For her talk, Dr. De Ungria focused on sample collection for evidenciary purposes and crime scenes.
She enumerated what is being done (and what needs to be done) by forensic DNA teams to ensure good collections and the safety of co-workers, victims, and survivors with regard to crime scenes, getting medical evidence from victims of abuse/violence, disaster victim identification, paternity or kinship analysis, management of forensic databases, routine storage of biological samples post-analysis in biobanks as part of the evidence laws of a country or locality, and the impacts of the pandemic on forensic casework.
Dr. De Ungria stated that given these considerations, law enforcement agencies and forensic institutions must balance the need to conduct investigations in order to maintain public order, with the biosafety requirements of protecting their human resources. This balance can only be achieved with the support of the national government, ample multilateral collaborations amongst government agencies and private institutions, careful planning by institutional administrators, technical input from experienced forensic practitioners, and full compliance by all personnel with biosafety guidelines provided by internationally recognized health institutions.
Effect of the pandemic on mental health
The mental health problems on the rise today due to COVID-19 are stress, anxiety, depression, domestic violence, and cyber violence. To support mental well-being, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends non-use of stigmatizing words. Terms like disease, victims, cases are replaced with people who have COVID-19, people being treated for COVID-19, and people recovering from COVID-19.
Other suggested mental health approaches are emphasizing that there is no health without mental health; multidisciplinary approach; collaboration; positivity (we can survive the pandemic if we work together constructively) but not to the point of being blind or obtuse to negative things that are happening; control only the controllable; and importance of prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation.
Dr. Swastiningsih’s advice is to ask for the best solution in one’s country/area to deal with the pandemic and to consider the existing culture, support system available, and local wisdom.
Safe data and secure space
With most people playing, learning, and working online during the lockdown, cyber criminals are taking advantage by methods such as passing on software viruses, frauds (WhatsApp lottery, holiday fraud, online fraud, pension fraud, Automated Teller Machines fraud), Honey Trap, Phishing scams, Subscriber Identity Module swap, and hacking. Other cyber crimes involve identity theft, cyber bullying, online activism, child sexual abuse, revenge porn, online hate crime, and stalking. Dr. Singh discussed each of these cyber criminal activities and presented easy-to-do preventive measures.
The webinar series Forensics and Pandemics is presented for free using Zoom and Facebook Live.
Fedelynn M. Jemena | Published in Healthscape Special COVID-19 Issue No. 12
