Australians who have gotten tattoos or piercings while in Bali, are being warned to seek medical advice after a Western Australian man contracted HIV during a recent holiday trip.
ABC reports the WA resident took a blood test when he returned from Indonesia.
His age and details of where he got the tattos have not been released.
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Dr Paul Armstrong, from the WA Department of Health, says people need to be careful about getting tattoos or piercings in developing countries.
"While tattooists in Western Australian must comply with strict regulations and a code of practice, tattoo parlours overseas may not meet the same standards," Dr Armstrong said.
"The equipment used in tattooing and body piercing, if contaminated with infected blood, can pose a risk of transmission of blood-borne viruses such as HIV, Hepatitis B and C as well as bacterial infections."
It is believed to be the first time authorities in Australia have been notified in of HIV contracted via a tatoo.
HIV is a disease that is contracted through blood-to-blood contact or sexual contact.
The disease affects the immune system.
While there are drugs to suppress the symptoms, there is no vaccine or cure for HIV.
