Thanks to David Ritchie of Ritchies Training Centre, Glasgow, for news that three medical workers have caught Hepatitis C after ‘­jagging’ ­themselves on dirty needles.

They were infected with the virus – which can cause liver ­disease and cancer – while ­working at NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde.

With over 7,000 reported sharps injury in Scottish hospitals staff since 2007, and no doubt many more that have not been reported plus many occurring outside hospitals and thus not included in any official statistic, this should be a serious warning to those who think that the risk of infection following sharps injury might be overstated.

see also HIV from sharps injury