CARP AT SPA CONTRACT ATHLETES MOUTH

Tiny carp nibble your toes in fishy pedicure Va. spa uses 'doctor fish' to rid clients of scaly skin — but do they polish? updated 11:03 a.m. ET, Mon., July. 21, 2008

Original Article with Update Below

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia - Ready for the latest in spa pampering? Prepare to dunk your feet in a tank of water and let tiny carp nibble away. Fish pedicures are creating something of a splash in the Washington D.C. area, where a northern Virginia spa has been offering them for the past four months. John Ho, who runs the Yvonne Hair and Nails salon with his wife, Yvonne Le, said 5,000 people have taken the plunge so far. "This is a good treatment for everyone who likes to have nice feet," Ho said. He said he wanted to come up with something unique while finding a replacement for pedicures that use razors to scrape off dead skin. The razors have fallen out of favor with state regulators because of concerns about whether they're sanitary. Ho was skeptical at first about the fish, which are called garra rufa but typically known as doctor fish. They were first used in Turkey and have become popular in some Asian countries. But Ho doubted they would thrive in the warm water needed for a comfortable footbath. And he didn't know if customers would like the idea. "I know people were a little intimidated at first," Ho said. "But I just said, 'Let's give it a shot.' "

Customers were quickly hooked.

Tracy Roberts, 33, heard about it on a local radio show. She said it was "the best pedicure I ever had" and has spread the word to friends and co-workers. "I'd been an athlete all my life, so I've always had calluses on my feet. This was the first time somebody got rid of my calluses completely," she said. 'Feels like your foot's asleep'First time customer KaNin Reese, 32, described the tingling sensation created by the toothless fish: "It kind of feels like your foot's asleep," she said.The fish don't do the job alone. After 15 to 30 minutes in the tank, customers get a standard pedicure, made easier by the soft skin the doctor fish leave behind. Ho believes his is the only salon in the country to offer the treatment, which costs $35 for 15 minutes and $50 for 30 minutes. The spa has more than 1,000 fish, with about 100 in each individual pedicure tank at any given time. Dennis Arnold, a podiatrist who four years ago established the

International Pedicure Association,

said he had never heard of the treatment and doubts it will become widespread. "I think most people would be afraid of it," he said. Customer Patsy Fisher, 42, admitted she was nervous as she prepared for her first fish pedicure. But her apprehension dissolved into laughter after she put her feet in the tank and the fish swarmed to her toes. "It's a little ticklish, actually," she said. Ho said the hot water in which the fish thrive doesn't support much plant or aquatic life, so they learned to feed on whatever food sources were available — including dead, flaking skin. They leave live skin alone because, without teeth, they can't bite it off. Next up: full-body fish treatments?In addition to offering pedicures, Ho hopes to establish a network of Doctor Fish Massage franchises and is evaluating a full-body fish treatment that, among other things, could treat psoriasis and other skin ailments. Ho spent a year and about $40,000 getting the pedicures up and running, with a few hiccups along the way. State regulations make no provision for regulating fish pedicures. But the county health department — which does regulate pools — required the salon to switch from a shallow, tiled communal pool that served as many as eight people to individual tanks in which the water is changed for each customer. The communal pool also presented its own problem: At times the fish would flock to the feet of an individual with a surplus of dead skin, leaving others with a dearth of fish. "It would sometimes be embarrassing for them but it was also really hilarious," Ho said.

MEN AND WOMEN REFUSE TO PLAY ON COURT AFTER UNIQUE MEETING OF WOMEN AGAINST CARP TREATMENT OR WACT

BIZARRE INCIDENT CREATES MAJOR WAVE OF CONCERN FOR ALEXANDRIA, Virginia Mayor EiMhean Hertz: It may not end too soon - patience is definitely in need and of short supply.

Updated: Thursday July 24, 2008 1hour 60minutes ago.

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia - In this mid-size city of Virginia, several women have revealed to the Mouse that they have had to file a law suit against the company, the city, and the FDA, for their part in allowing tiny small fish called carp, to perform so-called pedicure also known as Cadicure (after the carp) for a disease they contracted from the fish. It appears, and also to this reporter, that perhaps the women, some of whom are teenage and younger girls, have contracted the little known disease usually associated with sports and athletes, the disease called, "Athletes Foot". Strangely enough, it seems that the carp carry the disease but not in their fins or tails but in a most bizarre spot - their mouth. The FDA in a rare quick response stated vehemently that "These carp or any fish resembleing these fish could not have nor did come from the country of Mexico" decried a visibly shaken Navteh Buurns, "You must keep in mind that Mexico is a long way from Virginia and there is not a direct water line to allow the carp, even if they could swim such a distance to migrate here" "I don't quite know at this time how such a disasterous event occurred nor how these carp developed athlete's mouth, however, if there is a Mexican link, which again I firmly deny and doubt then protection must be given first priority to stop massive killings by angry husbands and boyfriends. It is for this reason, we as the government entity in charge of this rare phenomenon have set up the organization called, CAPUOFF CAPUOFF which stands for,"Carp Associated Protection Unit Organized Fish Future". We, the government and Mexico, take very seriously and will hold any murderer and violater to the maximum extent of the law." At a cost of over $40,000.00, which has been determined by the ICA - the newly founded International Cadicure Associaton (which adapted it's name from the fin disease of fish called Ick), Joh Ho with his wife Yevonne Lei (misspelled in the original article above), run the Yevon Hair Salon and have served upward of 5,000 women and girls (and probably some men - unknown at this article printing). "I was skeptical of this procedure from beginning, but she insist I do this - she saw money come in" stated the angry Joh Ho. Liale, another employee, was assulted when she stated with her finger pointed at some of the women assembled in this auditorium and began to shout, "she have athlete foot, she athlete foot" in what appeared as some form of broken english. Liale LIE? The crowd of 5,000+ became very agitated and some of them began to chant loudly, "Liale Lie,Liale Lie" which resulted in police moving through the crowd disbursing them with tear gas. "What began funny and hilarious, now no joking matter, much like slogan, "It alway funny til someone get eye shot out." declared Yevonne Lei. In performing an on the spot interview on the arena floor, a few of the women stated their husbands have filed for a divorce and many of the youger girls with tears rolling down their cheek and falling as in slow-motion to the hard wood floor below, stated their boyfriends have ended their relationship and it will be extremely difficult to find another. Many of the citizens of this close-knitted community have questioned the cleanliness and purity of their drinking water and wonder if they can catch athlete's rear from their toilet lids. Trying to alleviate fears and concern Podiatrist Denny Arnold stated the women were being "ignorant" to think their drinking water was in any way contaminated and it is drinkable and usable. Not a good choice of words from Mr. Arnold who was threatened by law suit for his use of the word "ignorant". Tracy Roberts, a customer, who initially heard of the spacarp program was upset and concerned about the appearance and the sudden itching of one of her feet, "I'm afraid it will reach the other foot although the same carp were not seen on my left foot, how will I walk if both become infected, and will my friends disassociate from me since I have contracted this disease?" Radio Station WNFT has since sent her a letter of apology and donated $20,000.00 to the search and cure of the Carp's athletes mouth. At this time there is no known cure nor is it known how or if the fish migrated from Mexico. Mexico has issued the warning that if they become in any way associated with the cause of the Carp disease they will disengage and retreat from NAFTA and the Americans will have to do their own work at their factories,roofing,plumbing,landscaping and other jobs performed by the illegal base in America. The mayor appeared to be scratching both her feet and it looks like this story will continue for quite some time.

Reporter: Ira Lafout

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