4 NY babies get herpes from Jewish circumcision rite in past 6 months

Cases reported since September from ‘metzitzah b’peh’; infants were hospitalized, received intravenous antiviral drugs and are now recovering

JTA — At least four infants have contracted herpes in New York City in the past six months after undergoing a circumcision rite in which the ritual circumciser, or mohel, cleans the circumcision wound by oral suction.

Three cases of herpes have been reported since December and four since September from the rite called “metzitzah b’peh,” WPIX-11 reported, citing the city’s Health Department.

The infants were hospitalized, received intravenous antiviral drugs and are now recovering, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The Times of Israel, 2020