Beware of the Needle
By S. Dinesh Gopinath
Director of Medical & Research Division
IAS, Chennai, India


This happened in Paris recently and may happen elsewhere also. A few weeks ago, in a movie theatre, a person felt something poking from her seat. When she got up to see what it was, she found a needle sticking out of the seat with a note attached saying “You have just been infected by HIV”. The Disease Control Center (in Paris) reported many similar events in many other cities recently. All tested needles were HI V positive.
The Center also reports that needles have been found in cash dispensers at public banking machines. We ask everyone to use extreme caution when faced with this kind of situation. All public chairs/seats should be inspected with vigilance and caution before use.
A careful visual inspection should be enough. In addition, it is desired that each one of you pass this message to all members of your family and your friends warning them of the potential danger.
Recently, one doctor narrated a somewhat similar incident that happened to one of his patients at the Priya Cinema in Delhi. A young girl, engaged and to be married in a couple of months, was pricked while the movie was going on. The tag with the needle had the message “Welcome to the World of HIV family”. Though doctors told her family that it takes about 6 months before the virus grows strong enough to start damaging the system and a healthy victim could survive for about 5-6 years, the girl died in four months, perhaps more because of the shock.
We all have to be careful at public places. Just think about saving a life by forwarding this message. Your email could save a life.

 

 

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