A “vampire facial” at a New Mexico spa has been linked to a new HIV infection, years after the spa closed, state health officials said on Wednesday.
According to the New Mexico Department of Health, the patient’s only self-reported HIV risk exposure was a vampire facial they received in 2018 at VIP Spa in Albuquerque.
The client of the spa tested positive in 2023, but the spa was closed in September 2018 after state inspectors discovered practices that could potentially spread blood-borne infections to clients, including HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Two other clients had tested positive for HIV during the initial investigation.
A patient’s blood is drawn during a vampire facial, and then micro needles are used to inject parts of the blood back into the face. It has been reported that the treatment can rejuvenate the skin by reducing the size of pores and reducing fine lines.
The wellbeing division is encouraging previous clients who had any kind of infusion related help, including a vampire facial or Botox infusions at the celebrity Spa, to get tried for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. In excess of 100 previous clients were tried in 2018 and 2019 as a feature of the underlying examination, yet wellbeing authorities said previous celebrity clients ought to be retested, regardless of whether they at first tried negative.
“We should get the news out and remind individuals who got any sort of infusion connected with administrations gave at the celebrity Spa to come in for nothing and secret testing,” Dr. Laura Parajon, appointee secretary for the wellbeing division, said.
The health department reported on Wednesday that it had discovered additional HIV infections that had a “direct or indirect connection with services provided” at VIP Spa. The number of HIV-positive individuals tested by the department has not been disclosed, nor has it specified what constitutes an indirect connection. CBS News has sought clarification from the health department.
When Kim Kardashian posted an Instagram picture in 2013 of herself after receiving a vampire facial at a different spa, the treatment became increasingly popular. She has since expressed her opposition to the procedure.
According to CBS affiliate KRQE, former VIP Spa owner Maria Ramos de Ruiz pleaded guilty in June 2022 to five felony counts of practicing medicine without a license. She was condemned to three-and-a-half years in jail.
