Hoaxes and Rumors About HIV/AIDS

March 28, 2001

False Report: Texas Child Dies of Heroin Overdose After Being Stuck by Used Needle Found in Playground
March 28, 2001
Response
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 needlestick 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 bloodborne 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, would be extremely low.

False Report: HIV Can Be Transmitted by Contact with Unused Feminine (Sanitary) Pads
March 28, 2001
Response
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 objects, no scientific evidence supports these ways to transmit HIV. HIV cannot be transmitted through the use of new, unused feminine pads. 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.

False Report: Mutated Version of HIV Transmitted Through the Air
December 6, 2000
Rumor
Recently, a Weekly World News story made claims that CDC had discovered a mutated version of HIV that is transmitted through the air. Is this true?
Response
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 (primarily for drug injection) with someone who is infected with HIV. It is now less commonly spread through transfusions of infected blood or blood products for people with hemophilia. 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. For more information about the transmission of HIV, please call the CDC National STD and AIDS Hotlines at 1-800-342-2437 or refer to additional information on the CDC Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention's web site at http://www.cdc.gov/hiv.

Are These Stories True? HIV Rumors -- The Facts
June 19, 2000
I have read on the Internet several stories about people getting stuck by needles in phone booth coin returns, movie theater seats, 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 and movie theater seats. These reports and warnings are being 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 recently 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 injury should be reported to the local or state health departments. 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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