New Mexico

New HIV case linked to

Published

1 year ago

July 6, 2023

A new HIV case has been connected to a “vampire facial” at a New Mexico spa, years after the business closed, state health officials said Wednesday.

The patient’s only self-reported HIV risk exposure was a vampire facial they received at VIP Spa in Albuquerque back in 2018, the New Mexico Department of Health reported.

The spa client tested positive in 2023, but the spa closed in September of 2018 after state inspectors identified practices that could potentially spread blood-borne infections, such as HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C to clients. At the time of the initial investigation, two other clients had tested positive for HIV.

During a vampire facial, a patient’s blood is drawn and then components of the blood are injected back into the face using micro needles. The procedure has been reported to reduce pore size and help with fine lines to rejuvenate the skin.

The health department is urging former clients who had any type of injection-related service, including a vampire facial or Botox injections at the VIP Spa, to get tested for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. More than 100 former clients were tested in 2018 and 2019 as part of the initial investigation, but health officials said former VIP clients should be retested, even if they initially tested negative.

“It’s very important that we spread the word and remind people who received any kind of injection-related to services provided at the VIP Spa to come in for free and confidential testing,” Dr. Laura Parajon, deputy secretary for the health department, said.

As of Wednesday, the health department said it has identified additional HIV infections with “direct or indirect connection with services provided” at VIP Spa. The department has not said how many people tested positive for HIV and did not specify what qualifies as an indirect connection. CBS News has reached out to the health department for clarification.

Vampire facials gained popularity when Kim Kardashian posted an Instagram photo of herself after undergoing the facial in 2013 at a different spa facility. She has since come out against the procedure.

Former VIP Spa owner Maria Ramos de Ruiz pleaded guilty in June of 2022 to five felony counts of practicing medicine without a license, CBS affiliate KRQE reported. She was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison.

Aliza Chasan

Aliza Chasan is a digital producer at 60 Minutes and CBS News.

Source link

Related Topics:Featured hiv aids kim kardashian

Click to comment

New Mexico

Sandoval County Sheriff's Office receives more than $1M to tackle backlog of felony warrants

Published

6 hours ago

November 20, 2024

Press Room

Sandoval County Sheriff's Office receives more than M to tackle backlog of felony warrants

The Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office is getting more than a million dollars to chip away at a backlog of felony warrants.

SANDOVAL COUNTY, N.M. – The Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office is getting more than a million dollars to chip away at a backlog of felony warrants.

“According to dispatch it is just under 500, 470 or so, and those are warrants that we are trying to target at this point,” said Sandoval County Undersheriff Joe Gonzales.

Gonzales says this is their second round of money this year. They got together with Bernalillo County, Rio Rancho police, and Corrales police to put together a taskforce to make the process easier.

“So some of these people are reoffenders and if they do not appear in court they never face the consequences of their crime. When we do these, that is what we are trying to get at, reoffenders and the most violent of the warrants that we have at this point,” said Gonzales.

The grant will give the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office the money they need to pay deputies overtime, allowing them to knock on doors and clear warrants.

“As you know, Albuquerque had a huge problem with gun violence. Rio Rancho and Sandoval County, we don’t have that big of a problem, but what we do have is property crimes,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales says as the population grows, it’s even more important to make sure everyone is safe. That means getting this backlog under control.

“These people have been charged with a crime they either failed to appear in court, or they appeared and absconded. At this point, those are the people that we want to bring back to the court and have their cases adjudicated,” said Gonzales.

Source link

New Mexico

New Mexico (NMAA) high school football playoffs: 2024 brackets, semifinal matchups, game times

Published

14 hours ago

November 19, 2024

Press Room

New Mexico (NMAA) high school football playoffs: 2024 brackets, semifinal matchups, game times

Playoff season continues in New Mexico high school football.

The postseason dwindles down this week as classes 2A-7A start the semifinals on Friday, Nov. 22, along with the 8-man championship game on Saturday, Nov. 23.

>>New Mexico high school football playoff brackets

Stick with High School on SI for all of the matchups, game times and scores throughout the 2024 New Mexico (NMAA) high school football playoffs.

7 p.m. Friday

2024 New Mexico Class 2A bracket

Championship game matchup

(1) Melrose vs. (4) Mesilla Valley Christian School

1 p.m. Saturday

2024 New Mexico Class 8-Man bracket

Download the SBLive App

To get live updates on your phone — as well as follow your favorite teams and top games — you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App | Download Android App

— Ben Dagg @sblivesports

Source link