The Iraqi Medical Union warned against the transmission of HIV/AIDS through unlicensed beauty salons and tattoo centers.

The Iraqi Medical Union reported 2,638 new cases of HIV/AIDS in the past few years, of which 470 have died.

Added that a few cases of newborn transmission from mother to child or through blood transfusions have been reported. No cases have been reported in the past three months.

Hassanin Safa Shuber, president of the medical union, said chronic HIV/AIDS is life-threatening if left untreated, as it is caused by a virus that weakens the immune system.

He added that cosmetic or tattoo centers and clinics that operate outside medical guidelines and do not have a license to operate are a cause of transmission of the virus.