What's happened
Three women in New Mexico were diagnosed with HIV after receiving 'vampire facial' procedures at an unlicensed spa. The CDC's investigation revealed that the spa reused disposable equipment, leading to HIV transmission. This marks the first documented cases of HIV transmission through cosmetic services using needles.
Why it matters
The cases highlight the risks associated with cosmetic procedures and the importance of stringent infection control measures. The incident could lead to increased scrutiny of unlicensed medical spas and stricter regulations to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
What the papers say
The South China Morning Post and The Independent both report on the CDC's findings regarding the HIV cases linked to 'vampire facials'. While SCMP focuses on the specifics of the cases and the procedure, The Independent delves into the background of the spa and the patients affected.
How we got here
The 'vampire facial' procedure, also known as platelet-rich plasma microneedling, involves drawing a client's blood, separating the plasma, and reinjecting it into the face to rejuvenate the skin. The CDC's investigation found that an unlicensed spa in New Mexico reused disposable equipment, leading to HIV transmission.
Common question
More on these topics
-
New Mexico is a state in the Southwestern region of the United States of America; its capital is Santa Fe, which was founded in 1610 as capital of Nuevo México, while its largest city is Albuquerque with its accompanying metropolitan area.
-
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a national public health institute in the United States. It is a United States federal agency, under the Department of Health and Human Services, and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
-
The human immunodeficiency viruses are two species of Lentivirus that infect humans. Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, a condition in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections a