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© 2007 Abesha Care Inc. All Right Reserved. office@abeshacare.org
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Rumors, Myths, and Hoaxes
I got an e-mail warning that a man, who was believed to be HIV-
positive, was recently caught placing blood in the ketchup dispenser
at a fast food restaurant. Because of the risk of HIV transmission, the
e–mail recommended that only individually wrapped packets of
ketchup be used. Is there a risk of contracting HIV from ketchup?
No incidents of ketchup dispensers being contaminated with HIV-
infected blood have been reported to CDC. Furthermore, CDC has no
reports of HIV infection resulting from eating food, including
condiments.
HIV is not an airborne or food-borne virus, and it does not live long
outside the body. Even if small amounts of HIV-infected blood were
consumed, stomach acid would destroy the virus. Therefore, there is
no risk of contracting HIV from eating ketchup.
HIV is most commonly transmitted through specific sexual behaviors
(anal, vaginal, or oral sex) or needle sharing with an infected person.
An HIV-infected woman can pass the virus to her baby before or
during childbirth or after birth through breastfeeding. Although the
risk is extremely low in the United Stats, it is also possible to acquire
HIV through transfusions of infected blood or blood products.
Did a Texas child die of a heroin overdose after being stuck by
a used needle found on a playground?
This story was investigated and found to be a hoax. To become
overdosed on a drug from a used needle and syringe, a person would
have to have a large amount of the drug injected directly into their
body. A needle stick injury such as that mentioned in the story would
not lead to a large enough injection to cause a drug overdose. In
addition, drug users would leave very little drug material in a
discarded syringe after they have injected. If such an incident were to
happen, there would likely be concerns about possible blood borne
infections, such as human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B or
C. The risk of these infections from an improperly disposed of needle,
such as that described in the story, are extremely low.
Can HIV be transmitted through contact with unused feminine
(sanitary) pads?
HIV cannot be transmitted through the use of new, unused feminine
pads. The human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, is a virus that is
passed from one person to another through blood-to-blood and
sexual contact with someone who is infected with HIV. In addition,
infected pregnant women can pass HIV to their babies during
pregnancy or delivery, as well as through breast feeding. Although
some people have been concerned that HIV might be transmitted in
other ways, such as through air, water, insects, or common objects,
no scientific evidence supports this. Even though no one has gotten
HIV from touching used feminine pads, used pads should be wrapped
and properly disposed of so no one comes in contact with blood.
Is a Weekly World News story that claims CDC has discovered a
mutated version of HIV that is transmitted through the air true?
This story is not true. It is unfortunate that such stories, which may
frighten the public, are being circulated on the Internet.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS, is
spread by sexual contact (anal, vaginal, or oral) or by sharing
needles and/or syringes with someone who is infected with HIV.
Babies born to HIV-infected women may become infected before or
during birth or through breast feeding.
Many scientific studies have been done to look at all the possible
ways that HIV is transmitted. These studies have not shown HIV to be
transmitted through air, water, insects, or casual contact.
I have read stories on the Internet about people getting stuck by
needles in phone booth coin returns, movie theater seats, gas pump
handles, and other places. One story said that CDC reported similar
incidents about improperly discarded needles and syringes. Are these
stories true?
CDC has received inquiries about a variety of reports or warnings
about used needles left by HIV-infected injection drug users in coin
return slots of pay phones, the underside of gas pump handles, and
on movie theater seats. These reports and warnings have been
circulated on the Internet and by e-mail and fax. Some reports have
falsely indicated that CDC "confirmed" the presence of HIV in the
needles. CDC has not tested such needles nor has CDC confirmed
the presence or absence of HIV in any sample related to these
rumors. The majority of these reports and warnings appear to have
no foundation in fact.
CDC was informed of one incident in Virginia of a needle stick from a
small-gauge needle (believed to be an insulin needle) in a coin return
slot of a pay phone. The incident was investigated by the local police
department. Several days later, after a report of this police action
appeared in the local newspaper, a needle was found in a vending
machine but did not cause a needle-stick injury.
Discarded needles are sometimes found in the community outside of
health care settings. These needles are believed to have been
discarded by persons who use insulin or are injection drug users.
Occasionally the "public" and certain groups of workers (e.g.,
sanitation workers or housekeeping staff) may sustain needle-stick
injuries involving inappropriately discarded needles. Needle-stick
injuries can transfer blood and blood-borne pathogens (e.g., hepatitis
B, hepatitis C, and HIV), but the risk of transmission from discarded
needles is extremely low.
CDC does not recommend testing discarded needles to assess the
presence or absence of infectious agents in the needles.
Management of exposed persons should be done on a case-by-case
evaluation of (1) the risk of a blood-borne pathogen infection in the
source and (2) the nature of the injury. Anyone who is injured from a
needle stick in a community setting should contact their physician or
go to an emergency room as soon as possible. The health care
professional should then report the injury to the local or state health
department. CDC is not aware of any cases where HIV has been
transmitted by a needle-stick injury outside a health care setting.
REFERENCE
CDC. HIV and AIDS: Are You at Risk?
Content Source:
Divisions of HIV/AIDS Prevention
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
I got an e-mail warning that a man, who was believed to be HIV-
positive, was recently caught placing blood in the ketchup dispenser
at a fast food restaurant. Because of the risk of HIV transmission, the
e–mail recommended that only individually wrapped packets of
ketchup be used. Is there a risk of contracting HIV from ketchup?
No incidents of ketchup dispensers being contaminated with HIV-
infected blood have been reported to CDC. Furthermore, CDC has no
reports of HIV infection resulting from eating food, including
condiments.
HIV is not an airborne or food-borne virus, and it does not live long
outside the body. Even if small amounts of HIV-infected blood were
consumed, stomach acid would destroy the virus. Therefore, there is
no risk of contracting HIV from eating ketchup.
HIV is most commonly transmitted through specific sexual behaviors
(anal, vaginal, or oral sex) or needle sharing with an infected person.
An HIV-infected woman can pass the virus to her baby before or
during childbirth or after birth through breastfeeding. Although the
risk is extremely low in the United Stats, it is also possible to acquire
HIV through transfusions of infected blood or blood products.
Did a Texas child die of a heroin overdose after being stuck by
a used needle found on a playground?
This story was investigated and found to be a hoax. To become
overdosed on a drug from a used needle and syringe, a person would
have to have a large amount of the drug injected directly into their
body. A needle stick injury such as that mentioned in the story would
not lead to a large enough injection to cause a drug overdose. In
addition, drug users would leave very little drug material in a
discarded syringe after they have injected. If such an incident were to
happen, there would likely be concerns about possible blood borne
infections, such as human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B or
C. The risk of these infections from an improperly disposed of needle,
such as that described in the story, are extremely low.
Can HIV be transmitted through contact with unused feminine
(sanitary) pads?
HIV cannot be transmitted through the use of new, unused feminine
pads. The human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, is a virus that is
passed from one person to another through blood-to-blood and
sexual contact with someone who is infected with HIV. In addition,
infected pregnant women can pass HIV to their babies during
pregnancy or delivery, as well as through breast feeding. Although
some people have been concerned that HIV might be transmitted in
other ways, such as through air, water, insects, or common objects,
no scientific evidence supports this. Even though no one has gotten
HIV from touching used feminine pads, used pads should be wrapped
and properly disposed of so no one comes in contact with blood.
Is a Weekly World News story that claims CDC has discovered a
mutated version of HIV that is transmitted through the air true?
This story is not true. It is unfortunate that such stories, which may
frighten the public, are being circulated on the Internet.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS, is
spread by sexual contact (anal, vaginal, or oral) or by sharing
needles and/or syringes with someone who is infected with HIV.
Babies born to HIV-infected women may become infected before or
during birth or through breast feeding.
Many scientific studies have been done to look at all the possible
ways that HIV is transmitted. These studies have not shown HIV to be
transmitted through air, water, insects, or casual contact.
I have read stories on the Internet about people getting stuck by
needles in phone booth coin returns, movie theater seats, gas pump
handles, and other places. One story said that CDC reported similar
incidents about improperly discarded needles and syringes. Are these
stories true?
CDC has received inquiries about a variety of reports or warnings
about used needles left by HIV-infected injection drug users in coin
return slots of pay phones, the underside of gas pump handles, and
on movie theater seats. These reports and warnings have been
circulated on the Internet and by e-mail and fax. Some reports have
falsely indicated that CDC "confirmed" the presence of HIV in the
needles. CDC has not tested such needles nor has CDC confirmed
the presence or absence of HIV in any sample related to these
rumors. The majority of these reports and warnings appear to have
no foundation in fact.
CDC was informed of one incident in Virginia of a needle stick from a
small-gauge needle (believed to be an insulin needle) in a coin return
slot of a pay phone. The incident was investigated by the local police
department. Several days later, after a report of this police action
appeared in the local newspaper, a needle was found in a vending
machine but did not cause a needle-stick injury.
Discarded needles are sometimes found in the community outside of
health care settings. These needles are believed to have been
discarded by persons who use insulin or are injection drug users.
Occasionally the "public" and certain groups of workers (e.g.,
sanitation workers or housekeeping staff) may sustain needle-stick
injuries involving inappropriately discarded needles. Needle-stick
injuries can transfer blood and blood-borne pathogens (e.g., hepatitis
B, hepatitis C, and HIV), but the risk of transmission from discarded
needles is extremely low.
CDC does not recommend testing discarded needles to assess the
presence or absence of infectious agents in the needles.
Management of exposed persons should be done on a case-by-case
evaluation of (1) the risk of a blood-borne pathogen infection in the
source and (2) the nature of the injury. Anyone who is injured from a
needle stick in a community setting should contact their physician or
go to an emergency room as soon as possible. The health care
professional should then report the injury to the local or state health
department. CDC is not aware of any cases where HIV has been
transmitted by a needle-stick injury outside a health care setting.
REFERENCE
CDC. HIV and AIDS: Are You at Risk?
Content Source:
Divisions of HIV/AIDS Prevention
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
The Top Ten Myths About HIV/AIDS >>
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