A fourth person is feared to have contracted an infection from a Samoan tattoo session, and doctors are being asked to check their records for other possible cases.
An urgent investigation is under way by health officials and the Labour Department into how three young Samoan men received
severe infections from traditional tattoos.
All three required hospitalisation.
One young man has had nearly 25 per cent of his skin removed to save him from the flesh-eating disease necrotising fasciitis.
Another man also caught the flesh-eating disease, while another had cellulitis, a serious skin inflammation around an infected wound.
Wellington region doctors have been told to report cases of skin infections that might be linked to tattoos in the past six months.
Tattooist Sua Vitale Fa'alavelave, who is believed to have been involved in at least two of the cases, has agreed to stop his work.
Wellington medical officer of health Margot McLean told the Dominion Post information from local GPs had uncovered a fourth case suspected to be linked to the same tattoo artist.
"There is someone else who we think has had a less severe cellulitis and just needed oral antibiotics, but we haven't linked it to him yet."
Joe Seupule, a spokesman for Mr Vitale who has done hundreds of tattoos, defended his record for good hygiene.
He questioned whether the victims had followed instructions for hygiene after the tattooing at Mr Vitale's Hutt Valley home.
Dr McLean said Mr Vitale had voluntarily agreed not to do any more tattoos until the investigation was complete, but the department could issue an order prohibiting him from working.
"We want to look very closely at his infection control practices. The Labour Department will also be investigating and we would not be happy for him to reopen until this is fully worked through and any concerns addressed," she said.
- NZPA
