| Why barber shops must disinfect equipment |
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Thursday, 27 August 2009 14:14
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HEPATITIS B and C are life-threatening viruses. Hepatitis C is a blood borne virus which spreads via blood-to-blood contact. There is a small risk of infection caused by having a haircut at a barber shop where the electrical clippers, scissors or sometimes unchanged razors used on a person might nick someone and then the machine used on another patron. This is possible because studies have suggested that the Hepatitis C virus can live outside of the body in dried blood for four days! In the United States, it is a government requirement for barbers to disinfect their scissors, combs and electrical clippers after cutting each client’s hair. Barber shops in the US usually keep a jar of “barbicide” (a disinfectant manufactured by King Research) to disinfect the equipment before cutting another client’s hair. A client can request that all equipment be disinfected before the barber proceeds to cut his hair. In Malaysia, however, there is no control on disinfecting the hair clippers, scissors or combs. A barber could unintentionally be infecting someone with the Hepatitis C virus. Sometimes the virus can also spread at a dentist clinic, if the equipment is not sterilised. There is a need for awareness among the public, Health Ministry and barbers to prevent the spread of the Hepatitis C virus and to put up signboards outside barber shops so that it can warn patrons to request the barber to disinfect their equipment before they proceed to cut their hair. At the same time, the Government should make sure it is equipped to enforce such a ruling. CONCERNED, http://thestar.com.my Add this page to your favourite Social Bookmarking websites;         
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