Why do some doctors advise against kissing a deceased loved one?

Dr. Viktor Ivanovik, a Moldovan physician with 300,000 TikTok followers, went viral after warning people not to kiss deceased loved ones. He explained that harmful bacteria can sometimes remain after death — especially if the person died from an infection — and in rare cases could be transmitted through contact.

His advice sparked mixed reactions. Some supported the safety warning, while others felt it challenged a deeply meaningful tradition. Across many cultures, touching or kissing the deceased is part of the grieving process, but during infectious outbreaks like COVID-19, health officials have at times advised caution to reduce potential risk.