A scene of negligence caught the attention of a father during the science fair at unit II of Colégio Tamandaré, in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, on Saturday. A child was performing glucose tests on other children, and a woman was complaining that the needles were not being changed between students. Parents who accompanied the event report having witnessed lancets being shared.
The student who brought the kit for the tests is between 12 and 13 years old. According to reports, she used the same lancet on up to three people during the activity. After the discovery of the sharing of sharps, families began reporting fear and anguish. One mother said her 12-year-old son repeatedly and insistently asks: "Mom, am I going to die?"
By the end of Sunday afternoon, at least 23 people who underwent the exam at the cultural fair had sought hospitals for prophylactic treatment. Hospital Municipal Lourenço Jorge, in Barra da Tijuca, confirmed 20 appointments related to the case. The school reported an additional three consultations performed in the private healthcare network.
The school issued a statement advising all students who participated in the tests to seek hospital care for evaluation and follow-up. The case reignites concerns about safety in school environments and the risks of contamination by blood-borne diseases when sharps are shared.
