Man contracts flesh-eating disease from tattoo

A traditional Samoan tattoo. Picture / Brett Phibbs

A young man has contracted the flesh-eating bacteria necrotising fasciitis from a traditional Samoan tattoo.

Wellington Regional Public Health officials are investigating the tattooist and he has agreed to stop work.

Medical Officer of Health Margot McLean says a second young man who got a tattoo has also been seriously ill with cellulitis, which led to blood-poisoning.

She says both men are recovering now.

Dr McLean says officials will work with the tattooist to improve his standards of infection control.

She does not believe any other clients have become ill.

She says traditional tattoos are in a way intricate artworks.

But she says the process is inherently risky, so it is important the best infection controls possible are employed.
- NEWSTALKZB