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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