PHUKET tourists and residents have been warned to take care when having their toes nibbled by puckering fish at streetside fish spas - there are no controls to ensure hygiene or prevent infection.
The Public Health Ministry may even close the 1300-plus fish spas that have burgeoned nationwide as tourists to Thailand discovered they enjoyed having their toes and feet mouthed and tickled by fish.
The fish fondle fad now has health officials pouting.
''People with skin diseases, open or pus-filled wounds, or diabetes should not be allowed to use the services,'' the director general of the Health Service Support Department, Dr Somchai Pinyopornpanich, told the media in Bangkok.
Dr Somchai said talks were taking place with the Department of Fisheries and the Department of Health to determine if regulating could work instead of a ban.
"Fish used in the spas must be no bigger than four inches, and should have no teeth," he said. Tanks, towels and tools all required special attention to ensure the protection of users.
The Public Health Ministry may even close the 1300-plus fish spas that have burgeoned nationwide as tourists to Thailand discovered they enjoyed having their toes and feet mouthed and tickled by fish.
The fish fondle fad now has health officials pouting.
''People with skin diseases, open or pus-filled wounds, or diabetes should not be allowed to use the services,'' the director general of the Health Service Support Department, Dr Somchai Pinyopornpanich, told the media in Bangkok.
Dr Somchai said talks were taking place with the Department of Fisheries and the Department of Health to determine if regulating could work instead of a ban.
"Fish used in the spas must be no bigger than four inches, and should have no teeth," he said. Tanks, towels and tools all required special attention to ensure the protection of users.
Same as would you wear someones dirty socks you just found ?
There are so many foot infections to be contacted by this "therapy".
Most other countries this practice is banned.
Posted by innocent bystander on March 10, 2011 12:15