Health, Safety and Environment

Hoax Email Regarding HIV Infection

4 November 2005

A number of concerned Members, Safety Reps and Branches have contacted CWU Headquarters Health and Safety Department in relation to an email that claims to be a "serious message" originating from the Kent Ambulance Service Headquarters and various other sources in relation to cinema-goers being maliciously infected with the HIV virus.

The email claims several reports have been received from across the country at the "Birmingham Centre for Disease Control" that cinema seats have been "booby trapped" with HIV infected hypodermic needles on which members of the public have fallen foul, and that these needles are accompanied by a note telling the victim that they have been infected. The email message goes on to say that HIV infected needle booby traps have also been found in payphone coin return slots and vending machines.

"Having investigated the claimed source of the message and the various authorities mentioned we have confirmed it to be a malicious "spoof" that has led to a totally unnecessary waste of time and resources of the Emergency Services due to the hoaxers using official Organisations’ names and phone numbers."

The message appears to have originated in America where similar "needle-stick" injuries have been reported, but they were not HIV related. In the original message the "Birmingham Centre for Disease Control" referred to was the American "Centers for Disease Control and Prevention".

Members should follow the normally recognised procedures where any risk of infection exists and report any problems in the normal way.