HIV cases detected in Erbil beauty salons as KRG health ministry warns of unlicensed operations

ERBIL — The Kurdistan Regional Government’s Health Ministry said Monday that three cases of HIV were detected in women’s beauty salons, prompting an investigation and renewed warnings about unlicensed establishments.

The infections were identified during routine laboratory testing and health permit renewals for workers in public-facing businesses, the ministry said in a statement.

Health teams “took the necessary measures immediately after the cases were identified,” the statement said, adding that the salons involved either lacked valid health permits or were operating with expired ones. Relevant authorities were notified.

The ministry urged the public to avoid visiting unlicensed salons and to always check for valid health permits when entering any public venue.

Citizens were encouraged to report health violations or unlicensed operations through the ministry’s hotline or complaint boxes.

The ministry said it remains ‘committed’ to monitoring public health conditions and enforcing regulations across the Kurdistan Region. Businesses found operating without proper health licenses face legal consequences, it said.

Iraq maintains a low HIV prevalence rate, estimated at 0.1% among adults aged 15 to 49, according to the World Bank. Despite this, health authorities have documented a total of 2,638 HIV/AIDS cases nationwide as of 2024.