“Satirical” HIV Hoax Endangers Public in Middle Georgia
Billing itself an “entertainment and satirical” website, TMZToday.com released a chilling (albeit patently false) news item that claims hundreds of people were exposed to HIV and hepatitis via reused needles at a Macon, GA health department.
” … the nurse gave the flu shot to 259 people,” the unnamed author wrote. “At least 6 of those people had HIV and 11 had Hepatitis.”
We called Nancy White, the Macon-Bibb County Health Department administrator, who found out about the hoax at around noon today.
“It’s completely false,” she tells us. “It’s not even feasible, first of all. Our nurses give the flu vaccine with pre-filled, disposable syringes.”
She calls attention to the author’s source, Dr. Lynn Hamford. “Who is she?” she asks, exasperated. “We’ve never heard of her — she’s fictitious.”
Though she maintains a positive disposition over the phone, her concern (and annoyance) is evident.
“The greater story is the misfortune of the hoax. [The website] claims to be satire, but this story can do so much harm — it’s going to deter people from getting a flu shot.” She cites a large number of preventable deaths due to alack of flu vaccinations. “[Getting a flu shot] is the single most important precaution you can take to combat that. It’s a serious virus and you want to take precaution. “
“The story is more than unfortunate,” she adds. “It’s reckless.”
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