2 New NYC Herpes Infections From Haredi Mouth-To-Penis Circumcision Rite

Two new cases of dangerous neonatal herpes following ritual Jewish circumcision with direct orogenital suction were reported in New York City in July 2014.

 

From: < >

Date: Jul 22, 2014 11:16 AM

Subject: NYC DOHMH Alert # 16 - New cases of neonatal herpes infection following ritual Jewish circumcision

To: 

Cc: 

 

Dear Health Alert Network (HAN) Subscriber:

2014 ALERT # 16

New cases of neonatal herpes infection following ritual Jewish circumcision

Please Share this Alert with All Emergency Medicine, Pediatric, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Infection Control, and Microbiology Laboratory Staff

 

• Two new cases of neonatal herpes following ritual Jewish circumcision with direct orogenital suction were reported in New York City in July 2014.

• Infants suspected of having herpes simplex virus infection should be hospitalized and treated with intravenous acyclovir.

• Health care providers are required to report diagnoses of neonatal herpes (with or without laboratory confirmation) to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

• Health care providers evaluating an infant <60 days of age for suspected neonatal herpes are required to collect a swab specimen from vesicles and submit the specimen to the New York State Wadsworth Center Laboratories.

July 22, 2014

Direct orogenital suction during ritual Jewish circumcision (also known as metzitzah b’peh) has been documented to transmit herpes simplex virus (HSV) to newborn males. In July 2014, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene received reports of two new cases of HSV infection in newborn male infants following direct orogenital suction. Since 2000, a total of 16 laboratory-confirmed cases of HSV-infection attributable to direct orogenital suction have been reported to the Health Department; three of these cases were reported in 2014 alone. Two of the 16 infants died, and at least two others suffered brain damage. 

 

In both of the cases reported in July, the infant boys were born to mothers with full-term pregnancies, had normal vaginal deliveries, and underwent ritual Jewish circumcision including direct orogenital suction on day of life 8. In the first case, the baby was evaluated as an outpatient on day of life 16 for pustular lesions on the penis and genital area. HSV infection was suspected, and a genital specimen collected for viral culture. The baby was admitted to the hospital and treated with acyclovir and clindamycin. Additional specimens were collected at the hospital for HSV testing, including CSF, blood, and swabs of lesions; all were negative for HSV, and the baby was discharged on day of life 19. On day of life 22, the initial viral culture taken as an outpatient was positive for HSV (non-typable). The baby was re-admitted to the hospital for intravenous acyclovir treatment. In the second case, the baby developed lesions on his penis, left thigh, and left foot beginning on day of life 17. On day of life 19, the baby’s pediatrician collected specimens for bacterial culture, which came back negative. The next day, after the appearance of new vesicular lesions, the pediatrician suspected HSV, and the baby was admitted to the hospital. Two swabs of genital lesions and one swab of a foot lesion were positive for HSV-1 by PCR. In both cases, the location of lesions, timing of signs and symptoms, and laboratory identification of HSV are consistent with transmission of HSV during direct contact between the mouth of the ritual circumciser and the newly circumcised infant penis.

Diagnosis, Reporting, and Specimen Collection

For detailed guidance regarding diagnosis, reporting, specimen collection, and specimen shipping and handling, please refer to Health Alert #2 (January 28, 2014). The purpose of this Health Alert is to remind providers:

1. When evaluating an ill infant male in the weeks following circumcision, providers should inquire whether direct orogenital suction was performed during circumcision and consider infection with HSV or other oral pathogens.

2. Babies suspected of having HSV infection should be immediately admitted to a hospital and treated presumptively with intravenous acyclovir.

3. Health care providers diagnosing herpes infection in infants aged 60 days or younger are required by law to report the infection to the Health Department within 24 hours of diagnosis. 

4. Providers evaluating infants 60 days or younger with suspected HSV infection are required by law to collect specimens from one or more vesicles (if present) or from any skin lesions suggestive of herpetic disease, and to send these swab(s) to the New York State Wadsworth Center Laboratories for diagnostic testing using molecular methods. 

Sincerely,

Jay K. Varma, MD

Deputy Commissioner

Division of Disease Control

Comments

[bendinai]

Okay...You all know that usually I am Mr. Chareidi defender...but THIS IS SICK!

Every kool aid / mitz drinking Chasid out there believes his rebbe's holiness / magical powers could protect everyone from everything, but when a particularly virulent form of the flu hit Eretz Yisrael a number of years ago, one rebbe (I believe gur) said he would no longer give out wine from his own cup after drinking from it.

[jancsibacsi]

This stubborn insane behaviour of always youre way or the highway with theese hassidishe moels just goes to show us how self destructive they are,no matter how hard one tries to reason with them or explain it to them with all their might they resist,they are evil make no mistake about it only in their own puny minds are they holy.

[Yahoshua David]

Isnt this practice part of 'life blood' Paganism? How does a person gets herpes in his mouth anyhow? We know it isnt from the babies... And we know its not from a virgin women... Hmmmm.. Almost like Hashem made herpes to tell us something - not to turn a blind eye to it.

[Reese]

How does a person gets herpes in his mouth anyhow?Posted by: Yahoshua David

Are you joking?

They are epidemic in the world, and usually people get them as children by nudniks who kiss them or pinch their cheeks, or serve them food with infected utensils. They are what many people call fever blisters.

[ah-pee-chorus]

Only 2 more? So what? 200 ? So what? Nothing will convince the Rabbis who insist it's totally safe. The gemara says so. Are you going to question the scientific knowledge of uneducated men from 2000 years ago?

[michelleyunjc]

This is horrific! I feel bad for the victims...

I felt like I wanted to die when my doctor confirmed that I have herpes. After my bf left me, I couldn't bring myself to go on normal dates again. Because I was ashamed to tell anyone that I have herpes.

I have wasted so much money on medication that couldn't really fix my problem. Worse, I was losing a lot of hair and I was constantly exhausted. Almost lost my job!

In my desperation, I have tried many drugs and alternative methods. You name it, I've tried it. I just would not give up!

After many failed attempts, I have been free of outbreaks for 6 months and 2 weeks without taking any medication. I have finally found a method that works for me!

So if you're down and out, JUST KEEP TRYING until you find something that works. If anyone cares to hear what I've tried and what I have been doing. Then I'd be happy to help in any way.

Just reach out to me at michelleyunjc[at]gmail[dot]com and I will share more details about my experiences.

I wish someone would have helped me out when I was struggling to find a solution. So if I can help you then it would make my day.

[sshhmmuueell]

sowho was the mo hell what about the con sent form

[Abracadabra]

This is mainly a Chassidish thing, but has caught on in Yeshivish circles as well. They are afraid to admit that their holy Rebbes from the past 400 years were WRONG about the essential spiritual importance of Metzitza B'Peh. Once they admit that it is harmful for the infant, their entire house of cards starts to come falling down.

The biggest problem of all is that the house of cards is built so high. The taller they are, the more easily they fall. If they would lie less to their children and brainwash their kids about fewer things, their whole house of cards would not go tumbling down at the slightest wind.

If Yiddishkeit didn't start out as a cult, it sure has become one now. All the facts in the world will not allow these Chareidim to accept reality about the life threatening dangers to infants of Metzitzah B'Peh. Such is the power of cognitive dissonance and the effects on the mind of living in cult communities.

[a mentsch]

The NYC DOH has been known to fudge around with this issue, calling everything herpes or blaming a mohel when it was someone else to blame. Let us wait and see for the truth to come out

[jancsibacsi]

a mentsch--I say you are a mentch una seichel a men without any intelligence if you can say what you just wrote here.

[Michael from Lakewood]

"Just reach out to me at michelleyunjc[at]gmail[dot]com and I will share more details about my experiences.

I wish someone would have helped me out when I was struggling to find a solution. So if I can help you then it would make my day.
Posted by: michelleyunjc | July 22, 2014 at 04:10 PM"

Something is rotten in Denmark.

[A. Nuran]

Anyone who sucks baby cock should be in prison for sexual assault of a minor.

Anyone who gives a baby herpes that way should have "aggravated assault with a deadly weapon" added to the charges. If the baby dies it should be upgraded to felony murder for killing an innocent child during the commission of a sexual assault.

[Morty]

How does the performance of oral sex on a baby in any way relate to God?

That family members accept this with such equanimity tends to suggest a willingness to pass on their own rage at the violation of self... to the next generation of victims.

Such diseased thinking, to equate primitive, DECIDEDLY animalistic behavior as having any spiritual value or saving grace. Speak up, speak up!

[Head of Broccoli]

A. Nuran agree. How is this not child sex abuse?