ABHA, 10 January — Police have closed down a barbershop here on charges of spreading skin diseases among its customers. Dozens of Civil Defense trainees at an institute who used the barber have contracted a skin disease, a Police Department source said on Tuesday.
The barber, if found guilty, faces a hefty fine and the cancellation of his shop’s license.
The unspecified skin disease, the symptoms of which are painful rashes and sores on the head, was detected after two trainees had their heads shaved at the shop. The barber allegedly used unclean razors.
Hospital tests subsequently pointed to the use of dirty razors as the source of the outbreak. It will take at least one month of treatment before those who were infected can be cured.
Civil Defense authorities have ordered all 132 cadets undergoing the course to undertake a thorough medical checkup. They have also notified the local police and the environmental health department about the spread of the disease and asked them to inspect all the saloons in the area to make sure they are abiding by hygienic regulations.
