Customers ‘exposed to HIV’ at beauty salon where cockroaches were seen ‘crawling all over the equipment’ – The Sun

HUNDREDS of patients could have been infected with HIV and hepatitis after visiting a beauty clinic where cockroaches were crawling over dirty equipment.

More than 120 people received cosmetic services from a therapist at the Sonoun Kimlee Salon in the Springvale Shopping Centre in Melbourne, Australia.

Now the local health department has called for all of them to immediately get blood tests.

The unregistered salon operated from the back of a jewellery shop from January 2018 until it was busted in May.

“This is one of the worst (cases) we have seen in terms of the practices and certainly one of the greatest risks for transmission of infection,” Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton told reporters on Wednesday.

“There appeared to be no evidence of cleaning and disinfection. There were cockroaches on medical equipment and it is pretty evident that the risk of infection was substantial.”

Nearby workers alerted authorities to people leaving the clinic with bandages on their bloodied faces.

“We are concerned about the hygiene practices and therefore the potential transmission of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV,” Dr Sutton said.

The department has only been able to contact 68 people to date, with none yet tested for the diseases.

“But due to very poor record keeping, there are potentially a couple o) hundred people or more who’ve been there,” Dr Sutton said.

The salon offered tattooing, mole removal, facial fillers and skin tightening.

Dr Sutton said people could be permanently disfigured or blinded by untrained practitioners, and it was unclear if some equipment was used once, as intended, or multiple times.

The therapist, who only had basic cosmetic training, is a family member of the jewellery store owner.

Many of the clients are understood to have been members of Melbourne’s Cambodian and Vietnamese communities.

The therapist worked alone, offered cheap prices, and it is believed she illegally imported Botox and fillers.

She has spoken with Dandenong council, which is investigating the matter. Prosecution under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act could lead to a maximum fine of $49,500 (£27,627).

Police are involved and there is scope for criminal charges, Dr Sutton said. The risk of Hepatitis B and C is considered moderate while the risk of HIV is low.

News of the unlicensed clinic has prompted calls for greater regulation of the beauty industry.

“It often comes as a surprise to people to learn how relaxed our laws are around who can perform invasive medical treatments,” Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons president Naveen Somia said.

“But it just goes to show that without adequate regulation and enforcement, there are unscrupulous operators who are willing to place patients at risk.”

A version of this story first appeared on news.com.au

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