Shop workers infected with HIV from needles.

[RosaMoline]

First and foremost, apologies for linking to a Daily Mail headline.
I was quite taken aback when I saw this. Can it really be true? It sounds awfully like a variation of the urban myths that were circulating in the 80s/90s.
I was under the impression that it’s actually quite difficult to contract HIV via this route. I know that healthcare workers are given prep if they have a needle stick injury as a matter of precaution. For addicts, obviously that’s different as they’re infecting directly into the bloodstream.
Hopefully, someone more knowledgeable will be along shortly to enlighten me.

Shoplifters are infecting staff with HIV after needle attacks

https://mol.im/a/12521727

He's also revealing that his stores don't have adequate health and safety policies. Any member of staff being stabbed with a needle should have been referred for medical attention where they could have received PEP treatment and vastly reduced the risk of infection.

Retailers have got to start looking after their staff a lot better than they currently do

It's been good to read the responses to the DM article on this thread.

Just as an update National AIDS Trust (NAT) (who works in this area in communicating with the press and organizations to clarify and correct any misinformation) were made aware and have tried to get to the bottom of it. However they've been unable to clarify the facts with Mr Walker and have now released this statement https://www.nat.org.uk/press-release/statement-we-believe-claims-hiv-transmission-occurred-through-needle-attacks-iceland

Thank you @HIVpos
I just knew this whole thing was ‘off’ from the get go. Just reminiscent of the oft repeated urban myths from the 80s and 80s. Mr Walker needs to make a statement to take responsibility and apologise for fuelling these claims in the first place.

Why is this the first I've heard of it? Wouldn't it be a huge story if it was true? I don't believe it but wondering why they're saying this?

I sincerely hope it’s a lie, because I was so appalled when I read the story the other day.

I’ve left this on Richard Walker (CEO of Iceland) Instagram;

Good for you. It's terrible he said that

I guess he believed it when he said it, but he needs to make a further statement now.

An update from Terrence Higgins’s Trust Instagram:

A few of us more open on sm have been suggesting he engage and clarify rather than quietly getting the comment removed. This is the latest which is actually a great idea from Oli Brown

I worked in a well known super market on the customer service desk and this shop lifter got out of hand proper beat the shit out security then some of the managers came down to help him whilst I called the police. It got really out of hand and the guy bit one of the managers drew blood then he spat his blood and spit in another's face and bit him also drawing blood. It was horrific I had to open the fire exit to let families out. The police arrived and also took my colleagues to hospital for testing for HIV to be on the safe side. Thankfully all okay but they wouldn't have thought about getting tests until the police insisted xx

Sounds horrific, though to be fair that would be a low risk scenario from the shoplifter if they had untreated HIV. Saliva is inhospitable to HIV and damages the HIV receptors making it unable to be passed on and sounds like they weren't bleeding themselves. Spitting itself isn't a risk. I'd be more concerned about spitting blood from one manager straight to another's face/eyes.

Testing straight away would not have shown any HIV infection from this incident as there is a window period where it wouldn't show up on any tests. 4-5 weeks is recommended nowadays on the latest tests https://i-base.info/guides/testing/what-is-the-window-period

Man's a fool. But then look at the business he runs.

Hi @HIVpos it was definitely a weird night at work. I usually stood there watching people steal all the time ( I didn't get paid to stop them lol) so it was a mental night. One of the managers did say he wasn't fussed about the test but your right they had to return 4 weeks later for further testing but the officer on duty said he didn't feel right not taking them to hospital. Xx

https://www.attitude.co.uk/news/iceland-executive-apologises-for-false-hiv-claim-447817/

It really does sound like bullshit but then we live in an age where people swallow tales about drink spiking and getting rape-spiked by needles in clubs so maybe this Iceland guy thought he'd jump on the bandwagon ... bizarre story for him to put out though. I wonder if he's quite well.

I'm not sure why he said this but think it was probably done due to lack of knowledge, without thinking it through and fact-checking. Also not realised there is an HIV community and others out there who will challenge incorrect information.

Although knowledge in this thread has been refreshingly great it still isn't everywhere. Stigma surveys done by NAT have shown that a lot of work still needs to be done in HIV education and the facts https://www.nat.org.uk/press-release/new-polling-shows-hiv-stigma-still-widespread
This includes in the healthcare profession 😕. I remember Alan Sugar tweeting misinformation earlier this year to over 5 million followers after the Zack HIV storyline in Eastenders, suggesting pregnancy termination. Despite loads of response from many people he never amended this.

At least Richard Walker has retracted what he said now, even though he took time to do so.

Well done @RosaMoline for doing your bit to get him to retract.

@HIVpos - I did not know about Alan Sugar. How disgustingly ignorant!