Fargo Cass Public Health warns against underground tattoos, piercings after spike in HCV numbers
FARGO — A warning against “kitchen wizards” and “scratchers,” or those who illegal provide body art like tattoos and piercings, was issued Wednesday, June 28, by Fargo Cass Public Health.
“Having a body art procedure performed in an unlicensed establishment and by someone who is not licensed poses the same risk as sharing needles through drug use,” Public Health said in a statement.
There is a “misconception” that receiving tattoos or piercings under the table does not warrant risks of infection like HIV or hepatitis C (HCV), Public Health said. However, there are recent cases here that prove going to a professional reduces that risk.
A mother reported a group of young girls giving each other belly button piercings at a north Fargo park, though officials were not able to contact the minors directly, said Grant Larson, Public Health director of environmental health. And an unidentified man from here recently contracted HIV believed to be caused by an illegal body art procedure identified as the highest risk factor. But the virus in this case, like others, could also be linked to sex and drug use.
Read more: http://www.inforum.com/news/4290531-fargo-cass-public-health-warns-against-underground-tattoos-piercings-after-spike-hcv