California will next month implement the first law in the US designed to
prevent “needlestick” injuries among health workers. The law will require
syringes to be fitted with retractable needles or plastic sheaths to reduce the
risk of infection by HIV, hepatitis viruses or other bloodborne pathogens. Until
now, safety needles haven’t been widely used because they cost more. Similar
legislation is in the works in 22 other states.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
Autism may have two distinct subtypes that vary by brain activity
2
A quantum state that lasts forever may finally be within our grasp
3
Sperm have been made magnetic to allow IVF inside the body
4
The secrets to keeping your brain sharp in old age
5
Walking shark found in Papua New Guinea is new to science
6
Fully autonomous drones have killed human soldiers for the first time
7
Global map reveals the vast scale of underground fungal networks
8
Has the answer to life's origins been hiding in our cells all along?
9
What if the idea of the autism spectrum is completely wrong?
10
Embryos made without sperm or eggs reveal why many pregnancies fail
