There were two people who were infected with HIV after they received the vampire facials offered at a New Mexico spa that is now closed. The state health department is offering free HIV testing for the former clients of the spa.
The Department of Health in New Mexico stated that they are investigating the two cases of HIV infection, the two people are said the be clients of the VIP Spa that closed in September after it was found that their vampire facial treatment could have been the reason why there was a spread of blood-borne diseases like hepatitis and HIV.
The state health department said that they have not yet found any exposures for the two people who were infected with HIV other than the injection-related facial that they received at the VIP Spa.
"Additional laboratory testing on specimens from the two clients indicates recent infection with the same HIV virus - increasing the likelihood that the two HIV infections may have resulted from a procedure at the VIP spa," state health officials said in a statement.
The vampire facial that the two infected patients received is a treatment where blood is isolated to get platelet-rich plasma, it is then injected into the skin using the microneedling process.
This facial garnered popularity after Hollywood celebrities like Kim Kardashian shared their experiences after receiving the treatment. Kardashian said that she regretted getting the treatment because of the pain.
The two patients who were infected with HIV because of the treatment received the injections at the spa between May and September 2018, the state health department said.
In September 2018, the owner of the spa Luly Ruiz told Albuquerque's KOAT-TV that they only use disposable needles. "I open them in front of my clients every time they come," Ruiz said at the time.
"While over 100 VIP Spa clients have already been tested, NMDOH is reaching out to ensure that testing and counseling services are available for individuals who received injection-related services at the VIP Spa," Kathy Kunkel, the health departments' cabinet secretary, said in a statement. "Testing is important for everyone as there are effective treatments for HIV and many hepatitis infections."
After the incident, the Department of Health is advising people to not receive the said facial procedure as they are not deemed as safe. Spa owners who have procedures that involve needles need to use disposable needles and let their clients see the whole process of changing the equipment to provide assurance, the Department of Health stated.
