The New Mexico Department of Health is warning people who visited a now-closed spa to get themselves tested after two clients who received injection-related procedures contracted HIV.
On Monday, encouraging clients of the now-closed VIP Spa in Albuquerque, N.M. to come in for free and confidential testing for HIV, as well as for hepatitis B and C. In its press release, the department said anyone who received an injection-related procedure, including a vampire facial, at the spa between May and September 2018 could have been infected.
A vampire facial, or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) facial, is a controversial skin treatment in 2013, which involves using needles to take samples of blood and extracting the plasma from it before injecting it back into the client鈥檚 face.
The procedure is touted as being able to rejuvenate the skin by boosting the turnover of skin cells, but its benefits remain disputed.
According to the NMDOH, the two former spa clients were recently infected with the same HIV virus, which they said increases the likelihood they may have contracted the virus from a procedure at the VIP Spa.
鈥淭he likelihood that these resulted from a procedure at the spa are high,鈥� Dr. Tierney Murphy, a medical epidemiologist with the health department, told local television station KRQE News 13.
The health department鈥檚 investigation has not identified any other potential exposures for HIV transmission for the two clients other than injection-related procedures at the spa, the press release said.
Kathy Kunkel, the NMDOH鈥檚 cabinet secretary, said more than 100 clients of the VIP Spa have already been tested.
鈥淭esting is important for everyone as there are effective treatments for HIV and many hepatitis infections,鈥� she said in the press release.
In September, by the health department revealed the spa鈥檚 practices could potentially spread blood-borne infections, such as HIV, hepatitis B and C, to clients.
Kathy Ortiz, the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department鈥檚 deputy director of boards and commissions, said the spa鈥檚 owner didn鈥檛 have a licence and they ordered a cease and desist order on the business.
In its public notice, the health department advised anyone interested in receiving a cosmetic service that involves needle injections to verify the procedure will be delivered by a licensed medical provider.
