A defunct New Mexico spa previously under investigation for potentially exposing clients to HIV through “vampire facials” has been linked to at least three cases, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Thursday.
In July of last year, the New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) advised former clients of VIP Beauty Salon and Spa (VIP Spa), located in downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico, to get tested after an initial HIV case was confirmed.
According to the DOH at the time, customers who received “injection-related service,” including a vampire facial or Botox injections, may have been exposed to blood-borne illness.
While the salon was shut down on September 7, 2018, following a state inspection, testing on 100 former clients continued through 2019 after investigators found practices at the salon could have potentially spread blood-borne infections, such as HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
During the initial testing in 2019, it was determined that two HIV cases could be linked back to procedures provided at the spa.