En Español
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.
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