Four Babies in NYC Have Recently Gotten Herpes From Controversial Jewish Circumcision Ritual

A seldom-practiced religious ritual has led to a cluster of herpes cases among infants, New York City health officials said Sunday. At least four infants have contracted the potentially fatal viral disease since last September, all after undergoing a circumcision during which the circumciser placed their mouth on the genital wound.

Last September, health officials issued a public health alert about the practice, known as metzitzah b’peh, following a case of neonatal herpes reported to the New York City Health Department. On Sunday, the Wall Street Journal reported there have been three more cases documented in NYC since December.

Jewish circumcision nowadays rarely involves any oral contact between the baby’s genitals and the circumciser, or mohel, and is actively discouraged by the community at large. But the ancient practice of suction—said to cleanse the wound—is still performed within some ultra-orthodox communities. (Read more from “Four Babies in NYC Have Recently Gotten Herpes From Controversial Jewish Circumcision Ritual” HERE)

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