The Delaware Division of Public Health ordered a Wilmington woman to cease tattooing activities in her home, in violation of Title 16 of the Delaware Code.
DPH Health Systems Protection staff issued a Cease and Desist Order to Erica Johnson of 515 E. Eighth St. in Wilmington for conducting tattooing activities out of her residence without a permit.
The unregulated tattoo parlor kept no client records. As a result, DPH cannot follow the normal protocol of contacting individuals by letter to ask them to seek medical testing.
DPH stated that customers who may have received tattooing or other body art services at this location to contact their healthcare provider for evaluation for diseases such as hepatitis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that may have been transmitted through the equipment. Tell the doctor about receiving a tattoo or piercing from an unregulated establishment, when it occurred, and any symptoms since the visit.
Delawareans served by the illegal operation can also contact the DPH Communicable Disease Bureau at 302-744-1050 if they have questions about potential transmission risks.
When in doubt, DPH recommends seeking testing for HIV and hepatitis. It is possible to carry these viruses for years without knowing it due to lack of symptoms, and, even if the virus cannot be traced to the closed tattoo parlor, knowing one’s HIV and hepatitis status can help get treatment and prevent further spread of these viruses.
To learn more about free testing options in your area, visit http://www.freehivtest.net/ and enter your ZIP code.
