If someone is self-injecting for medical conditions that are not contagious (like diabetes or allergies), why is it important to dispose of the syringes, needles and lancets properly?
For those community workers and the general public who may come into contact with dirty needles, the fear factor is the same because it is impossible to know whether needles have been used on a diabetic cat or on a person with HIV. There are more than 6 million people in the U.S. infected with hepatitis B and C, HIV, syphilis, or other contagious diseases which can be contracted from a stick with a used hypodermic needle.
