Tackling dirty needles part of city’s spring cleanup

With winter’s snow cover melted away, officials with the Thunder Bay District Health Unit have begun warning the public about the danger of discarded needles.

The Health Unit’s Points Outreach program worker Rick Thompson said if you discover used syringes, you should either call the Health Unit or use something like tongs to place the needle in a plastic container for pickup.

While the risk of infection from a syringe found on the street is low, the Health Unit warns that it is still a risk.

“Our big concerns (about exposure to dirty needles) are things like tetanus and Hepatitis D and potentially Hepatitis B,” Thompson said. “Anytime you get a blood exposure, there’s a potential risk.”

He added that the points program and the city are taking great measures to keep used needles from turning up in public spaces.