HIV-Infected Woman Pricks 12-Year-Old Boy With Needle Containing Her Body Fluids During Fight

An HIV-infected woman pricked a 12-year-old boy with a syringe filled with her body fluids in Dundee. Jacqueline O’Neil, 32, was reportedly furious when the boy found and flushed her drugs down the toilet.

Prosecutors claim that the needle penetrated the boy’s skin. According to the ScottishDaily Record, the boy and his relatives went to O’Neil’s residence where they found her in the living room with heroin as well as drug paraphernalia. She was allegedly under the influence of drugs.

The boy, who seemingly wanted to help, disposed of the drugs. When he returned to the living room, a fight ensued and a hypodermic needle happened to be on a pillowcase. It wasn’t revealed how the boy was related to the woman.

As per the publication, fiscal deputy Saima Rasheed recalled the story to Dundee Sheriff Court.

“The Crown’s position is that she was under the influence of something and was waving the needle about whereby it struck the boy on the hand. Her version is that she is trying to take the needle away from him when it struck him.”

Defense solicitor Gary McIlravey said that the woman insisted that she didn’t mean to prick the boy. While she accepts that the struggle happened, she does not agree to the accusations that she deliberately jabbed the boy with the needle.

“Drugs were seen by the boy and were taken and disposed of – flushed down the toilet. At that point, he re-enters the living room and there is a pillowcase with a needle in it. He asks what it was, picks it up and the struggle ensues. At some point, the boy was pricked.”

The charge alleges that O’Neil culpably and recklessly exposed the victim to the risk of HIV contraction. She was further accused of assault for allegedly hitting the boy and for threatening to hurl a chair at him.

The boy’s condition isn’t known yet.

In Zimbabwe, concerned parents rushed 12 children to the hospital fearing that they might be infected with HIV. The Chronicle reported that the students were playing “doctors and nurses” without the supervision of adults.

A Grade 6 pupil then found a syringe that contained an unidentified fluid. She took on the role of a nurse and injected her friends with the unknown substance. The parents are upset that the children were able to access the hazardous object.

HIV needle prick stories occur from time to time, but scientists are continuously searching for ways cure to the virus.

Earlier this year, the Daily Mail reported that experts have developed a new therapy that could eradicate an “HIV-like virus.” They managed to eliminate the virus from two macaque monkeys in a span of two weeks.

However, infectious disease expert Dr. John Greene said that the therapy would only work for individuals who have been infected “within a 24-hour window.” Once finalized, he is positive that the cure will still be useful.

“If people were exposed to the HIV virus and they knew they were exposed at a certain time, because of an event like a needle stick or other means, they could maybe take this antibody within 24 hours and reduce the chances that they are going to become infected with the HIV virus.”

Aside from healthcare workers, HIV-positive mothers can also benefit. They can take the medication prior to giving birth. Their newborns could to the same in an attempt to lessen the risk of transmitting the virus.

Experts call the treatment, immunotherapy, “an exciting branch of medicine” as it is also eyed for cancer types not cured by orthodox means.

The only downside, apart from being costly, is that the new treatment is still a work in progress. It might take five to 10 years before humans get to experience its wonders.

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