Vampire Facials at New Mexico Spa Linked to Additional Cases of HIV

Former purchasers of a now-shuttered New Mexico salon are being urged to get examined for HIV after new infections linked to vampire facials on the power have been discovered years after its closure.

On Wednesday, the New Mexico Division of Nicely being (DOH) launched {{that a}} newly acknowledged case of HIV was reported to the DOH Infectious Sickness Bureau. The affected individual’s solely self-reported HIV publicity was a vampire facial they obtained on the VIP Spa in Albuquerque once more in 2018.

Vampire facials use the patron’s private blood pulled and re-inserted with micro-needling to refresh the pores and pores and skin on their face.

Nicely being officers state that anyone who obtained associated corporations on the VIP Spa go to the South Valley Public Nicely being office in Albuquerque for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C lab testing — even after they beforehand examined detrimental.

“It’s important that we unfold the phrase and remind people who obtained any type of injection-related to corporations supplied on the VIP Spa to come back again in freed from cost and confidential testing,” Dr. Laura Parajon, deputy secretary for DOH, talked about in a launch.  

Due to the brand new case, the DOH reopened their investigation on the incident and situated that there have been “additional HIV infections with direct or indirect reference to corporations supplied on the VIP Spa.” 

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New Mexico effectively being officers first warned purchasers who obtained a vampire facial on the Albuquerque spa to get examined for HIV and hepatitis in September 2018, after one explicit individual obtained an an an infection.

The DOH immediately shut down VIP Spa after the patron reported the an an infection and the preliminary investigation found that their injected treatments, along with vampire facials and Botox, may unfold blood-borne infections like HIV, and hepatitis B and C.

On the time, DOH epidemiologist Dr. Michael Landen talked about they’ve been alarmed by how VIP Spa saved, handled and disposed of needles.

“That’s relating to, because of if needles aren’t handled appropriately, chances are you’ll doubtlessly improve the possibility of a blood-borne an an infection,” Landen suggested KOAT Info.

Maria Ramos de Ruiz, the proprietor of VIP Spa, talked about that they solely use disposable needles. “I open them in entrance of my purchasers every time they arrive,” she suggested the outlet.

Higher than 100 former purchasers have been examined in the midst of the preliminary investigation in 2018 and 2019. 

In April 2021, Ramos de Ruiz was charged explicit individual counts of racketeering and fraud, along with 5 counts of coaching medication with out a license, six counts of money laundering, 4 counts of tax evasion and seven counts of willful failure to assemble and pay taxes.

In June 2022 she was sentenced to some and a half years in jail.