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 facility have been found years after its closure.

On Wednesday, the New Mexico Division of Well being (DOH) introduced {that a} newly recognized case of HIV was reported to the DOH Infectious Illness Bureau. The affected person’s solely self-reported HIV publicity was a vampire facial they obtained on the VIP Spa in Albuquerque again in 2018.

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

Well being officers state that anybody who obtained related companies on the VIP Spa go to the South Valley Public Well being workplace in Albuquerque for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C lab testing — even when they beforehand examined detrimental.

“It’s essential that we unfold the phrase and remind individuals who obtained any form of injection-related to companies offered on the VIP Spa to come back in free of charge and confidential testing,” Dr. Laura Parajon, deputy secretary for DOH, mentioned in a launch.  

Because of the new case, the DOH reopened their investigation on the incident and located that there have been “further HIV infections with direct or oblique reference to companies offered on the VIP Spa.” 

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New Mexico well 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 particular person obtained an an infection.

The DOH instantly shut down VIP Spa after the consumer reported the an infection and the preliminary investigation discovered that their injected remedies, together with vampire facials and Botox, might unfold blood-borne infections like HIV, and hepatitis B and C.

On the time, DOH epidemiologist Dr. Michael Landen mentioned they have been alarmed by how VIP Spa saved, dealt with and disposed of needles.

“That’s regarding, as a result of if needles aren’t dealt with appropriately, you may doubtlessly enhance the chance of a blood-borne an infection,” Landen advised KOAT Information.

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

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

In April 2021, Ramos de Ruiz was charged particular person counts of racketeering and fraud, in addition to 5 counts of training drugs with out a license, six counts of cash laundering, 4 counts of tax evasion and 7 counts of willful failure to gather and pay taxes.

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