27th October 2011

WEYMOUTH: Pedicurist angry over ‘sensational’ fish spa claims

ANGRY Weymouth fish pedicurist Kirsten Salf claims sensationalised coverage of new Government health guidelines is threatening her business near the Town Bridge.

The Health Protection Agency has just issued advice warning people using popular innovative fish foot spas that the health risks they could encounter include catching HIV or Hepatitis C.

Mrs Salf welcomes HPA guidelines for public and environmental health practitioners and the fish spa industry which includes measures such as regular water changes.

This helps ensure as clean as possible conditions to reduce the risk of catching a disease from the beauty treatment where people put their bare feet into a tank of water and tiny garra rufa fish nibble away dry and deadskin.

But she feels national publicity given the measures has been an “overkill” concentration on the more dire possibilities of poorly run establishments.

She said: “Yes, people might catch something if the business is badly run, but the chances of catching a disease at a well run business is very small and the chance of catching HIV or Hepatitis C is minute.

“It all comes down to how professional you are yet we are all being tarred with the same brush.

“I have liaised closely with Weymouth and Portland environmental health officers, my equipment is state of the art and the water in my fish spas is fully filtered and sterilised every four minutes.

“I am angry that people’s perception may be coloured by the sensational approach taken to certain aspects of the HPA advice.

“I just hope people can see how well my business is run and that they are not put off coming here because of a few vague possibilities which might happen at badly run sites.”

Weymouth and Portland community safety spokesman Geoff Petherick said: “The advice from the Health Protection Agency is that though the risk of infection cannot be completely ruled out, the risks associated with fish foot spas are likely to be very low, if appropriate standards of hygiene are adhered to.

“It has been concluded that those with weakened immune systems or underlying medical conditions, including diabetes and psoriasis, are likely to be at increased risk of infection and so fish pedicures are not recommended for such individuals. The guidance from the Health Protection Agency can be found on the Dorset for you website.www.dorsetforyou.com/fishpedicures."

PICTURE: HAPPY FEET - Kirsten Salf with her fish

WEYMOUTH: Pedicurist angry over ‘sensational’ fish spa claims

WEYMOUTH: Pedicurist angry over ‘sensational’ fish spa claims

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