Milwaukee Health Department warns of skin disease from unlicensed tattoo operation
The Milwaukee Health Department is investigating unlicensed tattoo operations after cases of skin disease in minors emerged.
The health department said it started investigating the case after a report on May 14 from a medical provider of a case of nontuberculous mycobacteria from a tattoo procedure on a minor.
The health department said they found two additional cases of minors with NTM on May 20 and June 2.
The health department teamed up with the Milwaukee Police Department to find one of the suspects, according to Carly Hegarty, director of consumer environmental health for the City of Milwaukee.
Citations were issued against Jonathan Beasley accusing him of giving tattoos to minors without a license. He faces $614 in fines. MPD and health officials connected Beasley to two locations associated with Davinci Way Ink.
NTM is an environmental bacterium that can cause a skin infection. NTM can come from tattooing if the tattoo tools aren't properly cleaned or used in unsterile tap water used to distill the black ink, according to a health department press release.
According to Hegarty, the symptoms of NTM are swelling, pain, and pus and drainage near the tattoo area.
While NTM can heal in two to three months, Hegarty said anyone who believes they have NTM should get an official diagnosis and treatment from a doctor.
The Milwaukee Health Department is urging medical professionals to report if they see cases of tattoo-related infections and to ask their patients about recent tattoos and where they obtained them.
Investigations into other unlicensed tattoo operations are still ongoing, Hegarty said.
For parents or other people interested in tattoo safety, Hegarty said there are a few signs people can look for to be safe.
According to the press release, licensed tattoo artists are supposed to verify the age of the person receiving the tattoo, follow proper sanitation procedures and give detailed instructions for aftercare.
Hegarty said when getting tattoos, regardless of age, it's important to advocate for yourself.
'People absolutely have the right to ask, hey, can I see your City of Milwaukee-issued license? Can I see your practitioner's license? I would say good any tattoo artist would have that readily available,' Hegarty said.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Cases of skin disease from illegal tattoo operation in Milwaukee
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘Come and help us': Milwaukee parents fire back at Trump administration for denying federal aid amid lead crisis in schools
The library at Starms Discovery Learning Center has cheerful peach and blue walls, and squat wooden shelves filled with books wrapped in thick plastic jackets to protect them from the touches and smudges of many small hands. On Monday, the library became a place to exchange other stories, too – darker stories. These were stories of stressed mothers and anxious kids, of graduating fifth-graders missing out on end-of-year celebrations. The stories were about families with a dangerous toxin – lead – in their homes and now in their public schools. Those families shared stories about brain damage and learning disabilities, and about a federal government that has denied them help. 'I am here to elevate your stories,' said Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat from Madison who is the junior senator from Wisconsin. Baldwin, flanked by officials from the city's health department and school district, had come to Starms to meet with families and community activists and to hear more about their lives since the discovery that a child had been poisoned by peeling lead paint in one of the city's aging and poorly maintained school buildings. The city's health department ordered the school district to remediate the hazard, but the scope of the problem turned out to be much larger than a single building. So far, the district has closed six schools for cleaning and repainting, displacing roughly 1,800 students. Over the summer, the district's efforts will kick into high gear. It has a goal of visually inspecting all school buildings by September 1. The district, which is the largest in Wisconsin, has 144 buildings. All but 11 were built before 1978, when it was still legal to use lead in paint. The average age of an MPS school is 82 years. A few blocks away, Starms Early Childhood Center, the sister campus to the elementary school, is one of four that remains closed. It was built in 1893 and its preschool and kindergarten students and their teachers were moved into the elementary school. Though the city has cleared the building to reopen, many families said they'd prefer to remain where they were through the end of the school year to minimize further disruptions. Friday is district's last day before summer break. Several students in the district have been found to have elevated levels of lead in their blood. One case has been definitively linked to deteriorating paint in the basement of a school building, Golda Meir elementary. Two other cases involved students at Trowbridge and Kagel schools. Investigations determined that the source of the lead was most likely a combination of exposures from home and school. Other cases have been investigated and the schools were cleared as the source, said Caroline Reinwald, a spokesperson for the Milwaukee Health Department. Since the crisis started, Reinwald said, about 550 children have been screened for lead at clinics run by the health department and Novir, a company hired by the city to assist with screening. That doesn't include kids who might have been tested through their primary care doctors. 'We need to test many more kids for lead,' Milwaukee Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Totoraitis said on Monday. The City of Milwaukee Health Department had been working with experts in the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch when the entire team was laid off in the federal government's Reduction in Force cuts in April. The city had requested that the CDC dispatch disease detectives to help mount a wide-scale blood testing campaign of kids in city schools. That request was also denied, citing the agency's loss of its lead experts. Families who attended the meeting with Baldwin said they were outraged by the Trump administration's apparent lack of support or interest. 'We need our children to be protected right now,' said Tikiya Frazier, who has nieces and nephews at two of the closed schools. 'We need them to understand that and come and help us. This is a state of emergency for us.' On Monday, Baldwin issued an open invitation to US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to visit Milwaukee to see and hear the issues for himself. She has twice before pressed Kennedy about the denial of federal aid. Both times he gave mollifying answers. 'Do you mean to eliminate this branch at the CDC?' Baldwin asked him in a hearing in May. 'No, we do not,' Kennedy responded. But he has yet to reinstate the fired experts or reopen the lead program under his planned Administration for a Healthy America. He's also given no timeline for when federal lead poisoning prevention activities might continue. When Baldwin asked Kennedy about Milwaukee's situation in a budget hearing a week later, he responded that 'We have a team in Milwaukee.' The team was a lab technician who had briefly come to help calibrate a machine in the city's public health lab. Although the city had requested and needed that help for years, officials said it was not the work they had recently asked the CDC to tackle: helping get more kids' blood tested for lead exposure. 'Either he was lying, or he didn't know what was happening in his own agency. Either one is unacceptable,' Baldwin said after Monday's meeting. Kennedy has also failed to respond to a letter that Baldwin and US Rep. Gwen Moore sent in April, urging him to reinstate the CDC's lead team. On Tuesday, Baldwin and her colleague, Democratic Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, sent Kennedy another letter with detailed questions about the fate of the Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. They gave him until June 16 to respond. 'We've got to hold the Trump administration accountable,' Baldwin said. 'They could make the situation better today by rehiring these experts.' CNN reached out to HHS and the White House with questions about their plans for the Lead Poisoning Prevention Program and to get the administration's response to Milwaukee parents. HHS did not respond by CNN's deadline. 'I'm angry because Wisconsin is always there for other states,' said Koa Branch, who has four children in Milwaukee's public schools. When the tap water in Flint, Michigan, tested positive for high levels of lead a decade ago, Branch said, she remembers community members packing up food and supplies and going for support. But now, 'where's our help? Where's help for us?' Branch had two sons at Westside Academy when it closed in early May. She was notified via a newsletter sent home with her children and later a phone call. 'My anxiety hit the roof,' she said. The school district relocated classes to Andrew Douglas Middle School, about 3 miles away, or gave students the option to take classes online. Branch says her easygoing 5-year-old, Jonas, took things in stride, but her sensitive fourth-grader Jerell, 10, couldn't handle the change. 'I had to make a choice. I had to separate the two,' Branch said. Jonas moved with his class and teacher to the new campus, while Jarrell took classes online after Branch got home from work at night. 'I can't speak for everybody else, but it stressed my household,' she said. Branch said her kids have a vigilant pediatrician who has tested them for lead at each yearly wellness visit. So far, their test results have been normal. Still, she planned to take her youngest to a free clinic at a local church to get tested again. Santana Wells said she had a son and a niece attending fifth grade at Brown Street Academy, which closed May 12, about a month before school ended. Being at a different school caused her son to miss out on a lot of activities Brown Street had planned for its departing fifth-graders, she said. 'Brown Street used to do a carnival every year. They do a picnic. They have a long list of what they were doing for their graduates,' Wells said. Now, she said, it was a pared-down field trip, which felt unfair. Wells said she 'runs a tight schedule' at home to make it to work by 3 p.m. each day. With the change in schools, her son was arriving home later, which made her late to work, on top of everything else. Several parents said their kids had questions about the lead and felt anxious about going back to school in the fall, even though the city has tested their schools and deemed them safe to reoccupy. The stories told on Monday weren't just for the ears of the federal government. Totoraitis said the questions from children were a light-bulb moment for him, too. The health department's workers took great care to explain the lead situation to parents, but they hadn't done as much to try to answer kids' questions about what was happening. He said the department would work on that. He also hopes to temporarily hire at least one of the laid-off CDC lead experts for a few weeks to come review the city's efforts and make sure they are on track. Baldwin hopes the federal government will rehire them, too. 'These were the renowned experts on childhood lead mitigation and remediation, and the federal government needs to have that staff capacity to help, just as they did in Flint, Michigan,' she said. 'That's needed here, right now, in Milwaukee.' The US Environmental Protection Agency lifted its emergency order on drinking water in Flint last month — nine years after it was put into place.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Nontuberculous Mycobacterial (NTM) Diagnostic Market to Reach USD 3,261.1 million By 2032, Growing At An 6.64% CAGR
PUNE, India, June 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest research by Credence Research, the global Nontuberculous Mycobacterial (NTM) Diagnostic Market was valued at USD 1,814.8 million in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 3,261.1 million by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.64% during the forecast period. The rising incidence of NTM infections, especially among immunocompromised patients and individuals with chronic pulmonary conditions, is a primary factor driving market demand. Technological advancements in molecular diagnostics and imaging techniques are significantly enhancing detection accuracy and speed, leading to faster diagnosis and improved clinical outcomes. Healthcare providers are increasingly adopting advanced diagnostic platforms to address the complexities of identifying NTM species, which often mimic other pulmonary disorders. This shift is further supported by growing awareness of NTM-related diseases and stronger clinical guidelines for early screening and diagnosis. Expanding healthcare infrastructure across emerging markets, coupled with increased investments in R&D by diagnostics companies, is expected to accelerate market expansion over the coming years. Browse the report and understand how it can benefit your business strategy- Key Growth Determinants: Nontuberculous Mycobacterial (NTM) Diagnostic Market The growth of the NTM Diagnostic Market is primarily driven by the rising global prevalence of NTM infections, particularly among the aging population and individuals with underlying lung conditions such as COPD, bronchiectasis, and cystic fibrosis. As awareness of these infections increases among healthcare professionals, the demand for timely and accurate diagnostic solutions is expanding. This trend is supported by an uptick in hospital admissions and outpatient consultations related to unexplained pulmonary symptoms, where NTM is an emerging differential diagnosis. Another key growth determinant is the rapid advancement in diagnostic technologies. Innovations in molecular diagnostics, PCR-based assays, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) are enabling faster, more precise identification of various NTM species, overcoming the limitations of traditional culture methods. Furthermore, increased funding for infectious disease research and growing collaborations between public health organizations and diagnostic manufacturers are creating favorable conditions for product development and market penetration. The rising implementation of clinical guidelines recommending early testing for at-risk populations is also bolstering the adoption of advanced NTM diagnostics globally. Key Growth Barriers: Nontuberculous Mycobacterial (NTM) Diagnostic Market Limited Awareness and MisdiagnosisMany clinicians and patients remain unaware of NTM infections, which often mimic tuberculosis or other chronic pulmonary conditions. This lack of awareness leads to frequent misdiagnosis or delayed testing, particularly in settings with limited diagnostic infrastructure. Diagnostic Complexity and InaccessibilityAccurate identification of NTM species is essential for effective treatment, but traditional culture methods are time-consuming and may lack sensitivity. Advanced molecular diagnostic tools, though more effective, are not widely accessible in many regions, especially in developing markets. Resource Constraints in Healthcare FacilitiesComprehensive NTM diagnostics require specialized laboratory equipment, trained personnel, and standardized testing protocols. Many healthcare systems, especially in low- and middle-income countries, face limitations in implementing such advanced diagnostics. Regulatory and Reimbursement ChallengesNavigating regulatory approval for new diagnostic tools can be time-consuming and costly. In addition, limited reimbursement policies for advanced NTM diagnostic tests discourage healthcare providers from adopting innovative solutions. Segmentation Based on Diagnostic Method: Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAAT) Microscopy Culture-based Methods Biochemical Tests Immunological Tests PCR Others Based on Infection Type: Pulmonary Cutaneous Disseminated Gastrointestinal Others Based on End-User: Hospitals & Clinics Diagnostic Laboratories Others Based on region North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa Preview the report with a detailed sample and understand how it can benefit your business strategy. Request a free sample today - Regional Analysis: Nontuberculous Mycobacterial (NTM) Diagnostic Market North America holds the largest share of the global NTM Diagnostic Market, accounting for approximately 39% of total revenue in 2023. This dominance is driven by advanced healthcare infrastructure, widespread use of molecular diagnostic technologies, and high awareness of NTM-related diseases. The presence of major diagnostic companies and strong R&D funding further support market growth in the United States and Canada. Europe follows with around 27% of the market share. Countries like Germany, the UK, and France are key contributors, supported by growing recognition of NTM infections, aging populations, and well-established public health systems. Increased focus on early diagnosis and the adoption of advanced testing tools continue to fuel regional demand. Asia-Pacific accounts for roughly 23% of the global market. Rapid improvements in healthcare infrastructure, growing patient awareness, and increased investments in diagnostic technologies are propelling growth in China, Japan, South Korea, and India. Partnerships between international diagnostic firms and regional players are expanding access to accurate NTM testing. Latin America represents about 6% of the market, led by Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina. Market growth is supported by public health campaigns and improved diagnostic capabilities, though infrastructure disparities in remote areas remain a challenge. Middle East & Africa comprise the smallest share, approximately 5% in 2023. While diagnostic capacity remains limited in many parts of the region, targeted investments in laboratory services and healthcare modernization—especially in the GCC and South Africa—are gradually improving market potential. Credence Research's Competitive Landscape Analysis Credence Research's Competitive Landscape Analysis presents a clear and focused view of key industry players in the NTM diagnostic segment with a spotlight on strategic strengths and market positioning: Credence Research identifies a handful of dominant multinational diagnostics firms—Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., F. Hoffmann‑La Roche Ltd, Becton, Dickinson & Company (BD), and bioMérieux SA—as frontrunners in the global NTM diagnostic market. These companies differentiate themselves via wide-ranging product portfolios that encompass both molecular and immunological diagnostic tools. They cater to centralized laboratory settings and decentralized testing environments, ensuring flexibility across different healthcare infrastructures. Their strong investment in R&D, global distribution networks, and robust service support contribute to their sustained competitive edge and rapid product adoption. Through its analysis, Credence Research highlights how these industry leaders are not only maintaining market dominance but also expanding access to advanced NTM diagnostic solutions via collaborations, innovative product development, and targeted regional strategies—positioning themselves to capitalise on the projected market growth. Tailor the report to align with your specific business needs and gain targeted insights. Request Full Report Here- Key Player Analysis Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) bioMérieux SA Bruker Corporation SD Biosensor Bioneer Seegene Inc. Recent Industry Developments June 2025 – Thermo Fisher Scientific introduced two advanced mass spectrometry instruments—the Orbitrap Astral Zoom and Orbitrap Excedion Pro—during the ASMS conference. Designed primarily for proteomics and biopharma applications, these systems deliver enhanced speed and sensitivity, significantly advancing the analysis of complex biological samples. Their improved resolution and throughput have potential applications in infectious disease diagnostics, including NTM-related testing. December 2024 – Shanghai MicuRx Pharmaceutical ( announced that the U.S. FDA granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) to its investigational anti-infective drug MRX-5 for the treatment of NTM infections, representing a significant step in developing targeted therapies for this condition. September 2023 – QIAGEN entered a strategic partnership with a major South Asian healthcare provider to integrate its proprietary diagnostics into regional laboratories, enhancing capabilities for detecting and managing NTM infections. August 2023 – bioMérieux expanded its infectious disease portfolio through the acquisition of a biotech company specializing in NTM diagnostics. July 2023 – Hologic, Inc. secured regulatory approval for a new diagnostic test specifically developed to identify NTM infections, reinforcing its commitment to infectious disease diagnostics. January 2022 – Gaelan Medical Trade LLC partnered with RedHill Biopharma Ltd. to distribute Talicia (omeprazole magnesium, amoxicillin, and rifabutin) in the United Arab Emirates. Though primarily approved for H. pylori, its components hold relevance in mycobacterial infection strategies. February 2021 – Koninklijke Philips N.V. completed the acquisition of BioTelemetry, Inc., a leader in remote monitoring and diagnostics, potentially expanding future integration of infectious disease tracking technologies. Reasons to Purchase this Report: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the market through qualitative and quantitative analyses, considering both economic and non-economic factors, with segmentation and sub-segmentation details provided in terms of market value (USD Billion). Identify regions and segments expected to experience the fastest growth or dominate the market, with a detailed analysis of geographic consumption patterns and the factors driving or hindering market performance in each region. Stay informed about the competitive environment, with rankings of major players, recent product and service launches, partnerships, business expansions, and acquisitions from the past five years. Access detailed profiles of major market players, including company overviews, insights, product benchmarking, and SWOT analysis, to understand competitive advantages and market positioning. Explore the present and forecasted market landscape, with insights into growth opportunities, market drivers, challenges, and constraints for both developed and emerging regions. Benefit from Porter's Five Forces analysis and Value Chain insights to evaluate various market perspectives and competitive dynamics. Understand the evolving market scenario, including potential growth opportunities and trends expected in the coming years. Browse the report and understand how it can benefit your business strategy - Discover additional reports tailored to your industry needs Ocular Drug Delivery System Market - Pharma Grade Synthetic Camphor Market - Topical Drug Delivery Market - Lidocaine Market - Dermatology and Eye Care Services Market - Metabolism Assays Market - Dental Implantology Drill Bit Market - Dental Implantology Drill Bit Market - Tetrabenazine Market - Follow Us: About Us: Credence Research is a viable intelligence and market research platform that provides quantitative B2B research to more than 2000 clients worldwide and is built on the Give principle. The company is a market research and consulting firm serving governments, non-legislative associations, non-profit organizations, and various organizations worldwide. We help our clients improve their execution in a lasting way and understand their most imperative objectives. Contact Us Mitul DeanTower C-1105 , S 25, Akash Tower,Vishal Nahar, Pimple Nilakh, Haveli,Pune – 411027, Indiasales@ Logo - View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Credence Research Inc. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Milwaukee Health Department warns of skin disease from unlicensed tattoo operation
The Milwaukee Health Department is investigating unlicensed tattoo operations after cases of skin disease in minors emerged. The health department said it started investigating the case after a report on May 14 from a medical provider of a case of nontuberculous mycobacteria from a tattoo procedure on a minor. The health department said they found two additional cases of minors with NTM on May 20 and June 2. The health department teamed up with the Milwaukee Police Department to find one of the suspects, according to Carly Hegarty, director of consumer environmental health for the City of Milwaukee. Citations were issued against Jonathan Beasley accusing him of giving tattoos to minors without a license. He faces $614 in fines. MPD and health officials connected Beasley to two locations associated with Davinci Way Ink. NTM is an environmental bacterium that can cause a skin infection. NTM can come from tattooing if the tattoo tools aren't properly cleaned or used in unsterile tap water used to distill the black ink, according to a health department press release. According to Hegarty, the symptoms of NTM are swelling, pain, and pus and drainage near the tattoo area. While NTM can heal in two to three months, Hegarty said anyone who believes they have NTM should get an official diagnosis and treatment from a doctor. The Milwaukee Health Department is urging medical professionals to report if they see cases of tattoo-related infections and to ask their patients about recent tattoos and where they obtained them. Investigations into other unlicensed tattoo operations are still ongoing, Hegarty said. For parents or other people interested in tattoo safety, Hegarty said there are a few signs people can look for to be safe. According to the press release, licensed tattoo artists are supposed to verify the age of the person receiving the tattoo, follow proper sanitation procedures and give detailed instructions for aftercare. Hegarty said when getting tattoos, regardless of age, it's important to advocate for yourself. 'People absolutely have the right to ask, hey, can I see your City of Milwaukee-issued license? Can I see your practitioner's license? I would say good any tattoo artist would have that readily available,' Hegarty said. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Cases of skin disease from illegal tattoo operation in Milwaukee
