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Health Related Hoaxes and Rumors
- 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?
January 30, 2004
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.
- False Notice about Contamination of Commercial Ice Machines
January 23, 2004
Several restaurant associations and individual restaurants have recently received a facsimile (fax)
notice about microbial contamination of commercial ice machines. The fax is labeled “Urgent Fax Notice,
United States Public Health Notice, (CDC) Center for Disease Control.” This is a false notice. The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not issued such an alert.All commercial ice-making
machines are manufactured with a "boilerplate" statement affixed to the
machine stating when and how the ice machine should be cleaned and sanitized. In addition, most
companies that manufacture commercial ice- making machines provide toll-free telephone numbers for
owners to obtain additional information about when and how to clean and sanitize the equipment. CDC
recommends that users of commercial ice-making machines follow the manufacturer’s recommendations
for cleaning and sanitizing the machines.
- FDA and CDC Statement Concerning Rumors About Recalled Lot of Influenza Vaccine
Oct. 17, 2003
Rumors have been circulating that a "contaminated" lot of flu vaccine has
been recalled by the FDA. This is false. No contamination of any flu
vaccine has been identified anywhere in the U.S., and the FDA has not
recalled any lot of flu vaccine.Flu vaccine is routinely tested for safety, purity, and potency and all
lots released have met these standards. As with any vaccine, flu vaccine is
capable of causing some side effects, these are very rarely severe. Most
side effects from flu vaccine are mild, such as arm soreness, redness or
swelling where the shot was given, fever, or achiness. More serious
reactions to the flu vaccine do occur, but they are rare.
While FDA and CDC are currently investigating several recent reports of
possible significant allergic reactions to flu vaccine, it is important to
note that the number and type of reactions reported to date are not
unexpected. The reactions reported, not all of which may have been caused
by the administration of vaccine, do not, at this time, suggest any problem
with the flu vaccine. However, FDA and CDC will continue to investigate
these and any other reports and will provide any further information as
available. While serious reactions to flu vaccine are rare, each year about
114,000 people in the U.S. are hospitalized and about 36,000 people die
because of the flu.
The flu vaccine is the best way a person can protect themselves and their
loved ones against influenza. October and November are the best months to
get vaccinated - however, vaccination in December or later still provides
considerable protection.
For more information about influenza, go to
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/Flu.
- False Report Concerning Cola Soda Products
Sep 14, 2002
There are several variations of emails being circulated that warn consumers not to buy Coca-Cola
(or Pepsi) due to potential tainting of the products. These e-mails are a hoax. There are no
advisories, recalls, or safety alerts concerning this product. FDA is the federal agency that has
responsibility for regulation of this product and for keeping the public apprised of concerns such
as this. You may wish to visit the FDA recalls and safety alerts website at
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/7alerts.html to obtain the latest information in this regard.
The Coca Cola Company notes at its hoax and rumors website
(http://www2.coca-cola.com/contactus/myths_rumors/index.html) that it uses a number of processes to
assure the safety and quality of the water and ingredients used to make products of The Coca-Cola
Company. They also note that investigations to date, conducted by Federal and local officials, as
well as The Coca-Cola Company, have concluded that these rumors have no merit.
Other informative links regarding this rumor may be found at the Urban Legend web site at:
http://www.snopes.com/rumors/cocacola.htm.
- Consumer Alert: Buying antibiotics online
Nov 1, 2001
Consumers who are visiting Web sites and receiving e-mail
claiming to sell Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) and other antibiotics should
consult "Offers to Treat Biological Threats: What You Need to
Know," produced by the Federal Trade Commission in conjunction
with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These fraudsters often follow
the headlines, tailoring their offers to prey on consumers' fears
and vulnerabilities. The Consumer Alert is available online at
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2001/11/alert.htm
- Emails about Anthrax from CDC
There are several emails being circulated with the false subject
line: "Important information about anthrax from CDC." CDC
has not conducted a mass email campaign to consumers, therefore,
these emails do not originate from CDC.
- False Report: Poisonous Perfume Samples in the Mail
Some State Health Departments have recently received inquiries concerning e-mail messages that
allege that women have died after inhaling a free perfume sample that was mailed to them.
According to these e-mails, the perfume sample was poisonous. The e-mails also state that
free samples received in the mail, e.g., lotions, perfumes, diapers, etc., should be thrown
away.
These e-mails are a hoax. They are a variation of another hoax often referred to as the
Klingerman virus. The information in the e-mail notice is untrue. If you receive an e-mail
message about poisonous perfume samples received in the mail please do not forward it to
others.
Although these e-mail messages are a hoax, if you are concerned about the contents of a
package you receive in the mail, contact your local post office. It is a criminal offense to
send potentially hazardous agents through the mail for the purpose of deliberately causing
harm to human health. When such an incident occurs, the local emergency response system
should be activated by dialing 911 in most communities; in communities without 911 systems,
local law enforcement authorities should be notified. The local FBI field office and local
and state public health authorities also should be notified.
- False Report: Underarm Antiperspirants or Deodorants Cause Breast Cancer
(02-04-2003)
- False Report: Texas Child Dies of Heroin Overdose After Being Stuck by Used Needle Found in Play Area
(03-28-2001)
- False Report: HIV Can Be Transmitted by Contact with Unused Feminine (Sanitary) Pads
(03-28-2001)
-
Tampons and Asbestos, Dioxin
(07-23-1999)
- False Report: HIV Can Be Spread Through the Air
(12-06-2000)
- False Email Report: Hantavirus Spread by
Contact With Soda Cans or Grocery Packages (05-23-2001)
- False Email Report: Klingerman Virus
(05-23-2001)
- False Internet Report: Bananas
(05-23-2001)
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This page last reviewed
February 05, 2004.
United States Department of Health and
Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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