Tattoo artist's clients may be at risk: health unit

A Thunder Bay tattoo artist has been ordered to stop offering services.

The health unit said it issued the order to Dale Doucet becausehe was providing uninspected home-based tattooing.

A public health inspector with the health unit said Doucet's clients may have been put at risk of infection.

"If he was, perhaps, performing a tattoo on an individual who had a blood born pathogen ... [and] he didn't adequately clean and disinfect and sterilize that equipment and, then started tattooing someone else ... those pathogens, bacteria and viruses could be passed from person to person," Anita LaPointe said.

No evidence of infection

Any time the skin is pierced or tattooed, bacteria and viruses such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV and other skin infections can easily enter the body if proper infection control procedures are not in place.

"There is currently no evidence of transmission of infection from the operations," said Dr. David Williams, medical officer of health, in a press release.

"However, the public needs to be informed that if proper infection procedures are not in place there is always a level of risk, even if it is low."

The health unit has asked people who received services from Doucet at any home-based location to call the health unit as soon as possible to assist with the investigation.

CBC News attempted to contact Doucet for a comment, but was unable to reach him.

Public health inspectors are available between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, by calling 625-8318 or toll-free at1-888-294-6630, extension 8318. The public can also visit tbdhu.com/id for more information on safe tattooing.