Fears fish foot spa pedicures could spread HIV

Fish foot spa pedicures could spread diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C, health experts have warned.

The government’s Health Protection Agency said the risk of infection for users of the increasingly popular treatment, in which dozens of tiny fish nibble dead skin from their feet, is ‘low but could not be completely excluded’.

In new guidance to be published today, officials say those with diabetes, psoriasis or a weak immune system are particularly vulnerable and should not take part in the beauty craze at all.

Health warning: There are fears fish pedicures could spread HIV and hepatitis C, the Health Protection Agency have warned

The agency has discovered that fish tank water contains micro-organisms and believes problems could arise from bacteria being transmitted by the pedicure’s Garra Rufa fish, from the spa water itself or from one customer to another if the water is not changed.

If a user is infected with a blood-borne virus like HIV or hepatitis and bleeds in the water, there is a risk the diseases could be passed on.

According to the agency’s guidance, the risk is ‘extremely low’ but it ‘cannot be completely excluded’.

Trendy: BBC presenter Emily Maitlis has a fish pedicure

An agency spokesman said: ‘We have issued this guidance because there are a growing number of these spas.

‘When the correct hygiene procedures are followed, the risk of infection is very low.

‘However, there is still a risk of transmission of a number of infections — this does include viruses like HIV and hepatitis.’

The pedicures - which have long been popular in Asia where the fad began - have been banned in some US states, including Florida, Texas, New Hampshire and Washington, due to fears that infections could spread through open wounds.

The trend, which is meant to leave clients with smooth and attractive feet, has spread to beauty salons across the country.

Amy Childs and James Argent from the Only Way is Essex have had the treatment.

A spokeswoman for HIV charity the Terrence Higgins Trust said: ‘The risk of picking up infections is minimal but people must be careful where they choose to go.’

But a woman who runs a chain of the foot spa centres, said health chiefs were ‘scare-mongering’.

Dr Hilary Kirkbride, consultant epidemiologist at the HPA, said: ‘Provided that good standards of hygiene are followed by salons, members of the public are unlikely to get an infection from a fish spa pedicure, however the risk will be higher for certain people.’

Dr Kilbride said salons should first check their clients have no underlying health conditions that could put them at risk, and thoroughly examine their feet to make sure there are no cuts, grazes or infectious skin conditions.

HPA bosses have also recommended that spa water is changed after each client.

Dr Paul Cosford, the HPA’s director of health protection services, added: ‘If a member of the public is concerned about the level of cleanliness of a salon they visit, they should report this to their local environmental health department.’

The HPA guidance has been endorsed by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland.