Under what condition is cremation required by health authorities?

Cremation is required by health authorities in cases where there is a virulent communicable disease. This requirement is based on public health considerations, as such diseases can pose a significant risk of infection to others if the body is buried or handled improperly. Cremation minimizes the risk of disease transmission and ensures that the remains do not become a source of further infection. This practice is implemented to protect public health and safety, which aligns with the regulations set forth by health authorities during a health crisis.

In contrast, other scenarios such as the absence of surviving relatives, the body being unidentifiable, or local burial grounds being full do not automatically necessitate cremation from a health perspective. These situations are generally handled through different protocols or procedural rules but do not present the same level of health risk as bodies associated with virulent communicable diseases.