The London Middlesex Health Unit is advising customers of White Oaks Mall nail salon, Cali Nails to consult with their personal physician to test for a potential blood-borne infection.
Patrons of the nail establishment could be exposed to Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV according to Mary Lou Albanese, the health unit’s Manager of Infectious Disease Control Team.
The risk of infection is being linked to an individual that frequented the salon who had contracted Hepatitis B. Albanese explains that Hepatitis B and C as well as HIV fall along a spectrum of blood borne infections and that it is common practice in public health to mention all three infections together when there is a risk of contamination.
The advisory extends to anyone that visited the business between the timeline of May 2017-Jan 5, 2018. Despite the warning, the health unit is cautioning against unwarranted panic.
“We sent out the advisory just to make the public aware of the situation but we want to ensure everyone that it is generally a low risk.” -Mary Lou Albanese
Cali Nails has a history of infection-control infractions stemming from their inability to properly clean and disinfect foot baths as well as effectively disposing of single-use tools.
Albanese recommends visiting the health unit’s website to ensure personal care businesses have passed public health inspection reviews.
