A medical examiner in Thailand died after catching coronavirus from a dead patient, scientists suspect.

The forensic worker was infected in Bangkok in what is thought to be the first such case anywhere in the world.

Researchers warned in a letter published in the Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine that forensic workers would have to guard themselves against infection.

Health organisations such as the WHO have urged people handling dead bodies to be careful because it is still not fully understood how the virus spreads.

A forensic examiner in Thailand died after catching coronavirus from a dead patient, scientists believe (file photo)

The researchers wrote their letter on March 20, when most of Thailand's cases were imported and there were few signs of the virus spreading in the community, they said.

The forensic practitioner in question was one of only two medical workers who had caught the disease in Thailand at the time, the scientists say.

Therefore, they said there was a 'low chance' that the medical examiner would have come into contact with a living virus patient.

However, the person would have had contact with dead bodies - suggesting that was the source of infection.

The letter highlighting the medical examiner's case was sent by Won Sriwijitalai of the RVT Medical Center in Bangkok and Viroj Wiwanitkit of Dr DY Patil University in Pune, India.

'At present, there is no data on the exact number of COVID-19 contaminated corpses' because they are not routinely checked, the two scientists said.

'Nevertheless, infection control and universal precautions are necessary.

'Forensic professionals have to wear protective devices including a protective suit, gloves, goggles, cap and mask.

'The disinfection procedure used in operation rooms might be applied in pathology/forensic units too.'

The researchers say that 'according to our best knowledge' it is the first such case anywhere in the world.

Thailand has reported 2,613 cases of coronavirus and 34 deaths, according to the country's department of disease control.

The World Health Organisation warns people handling dead bodies to be cautious because the transmission of coronavirus is not yet fully understood.

The virus is thought to spread through droplets, but experts say that the 'source and disease progression are not yet entirely clear'.

Medics are particularly warned against coming into contact with the body fluids of dead people.

As a comparison, WHO experts warn that the lungs of people who died of influenza can be infectious 'if handled improperly during an autopsy'.

Ebola - which is also a virus - can be transmitted from the blood or body fluids of dead people, US health experts say.

The WHO says that 'levels of Ebola virus remain high after death', meaning that bodies of Ebola victims must be buried immediately.

However, the WHO says that most viruses 'do not survive long in the human body after death'.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States (CDC) warns people to wear protective equipment when handling the bodies of virus victims.

Many countries have scaled back funerals in order to stop coronavirus spreading at the associated social gatherings.