2 New York Infants Get Herpes From Controversial Circumcision Rite

By Paul Berger July 22, 2014

Two more infants in New York City have tested positive for herpes following a controversial circumcision rite.

Both babies are believed to have contracted the disease following metzitzah b’peh, a ritual in which the circumciser places his lips on the infant’s penis to suction blood from the circumcision wound.

New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene sent a health alert to doctors July 22 warning of the suspected cases.

In the first case, the baby had pustular lesions on the penis and genital area. He tested positive for herpes and was admitted to hospital for intravenous treatment.

In the second case, the baby developed lesions on his penis, thigh, and foot. The health alert did not say how the baby’s symptoms were treated.

The alert stated that both cases were consistent with transmission of herpes “during direct contact between the mouth of the ritual circumciser and the newly circumcised infant penis.”

Since 2000, 16 infants in New York City are suspected of contracting herpes following MBP. Two of those babies died and at least two others suffered brain damage.

The city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has tried to warn parents of the risks of MBP, which is particularly prevalent among the city’s ultra-Orthodox Jews.

In January, 2013, the city instituted a regulation that forced mohels to get written consent from parents before performing the rite.

But ultra-Orthodox groups say that MBP is safe and many mohels refuse to comply with the regulation.

Since the regulation was enforced, four infants have contracted the disease.

The city’s health department did not respond immediately to a request for information about whether the mohel or mohels involved in the latest cases obtained written consent before performing MBP.

Contact Paul Berger at [email protected] or on Twitter @pdberger

Paul Berger was a staff writer at the Forward from 2011-2016, covering crime and healthcare issues, such as sex abuse, circumcision, and fraud. He is a fluent Russian speaker and has reported from Russia and Ukraine. He also likes digging into historical mysteries.

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