A two-week old boy died at a Brooklyn hospital after contracting herpes through a religious circumcision ritual that ignited controversy in 2005 after another infant died, the Daily News has learned.
Brooklyn Infant Contracts Herpes from Mohel, Dies
A two-week old boy died at a Brooklyn hospital after contracting herpes through a religious circumcision ritual that ignited controversy in 2005 after another infant died, the Daily News has learned.
The unidentified infant died at Maimonides Hospital, according to a spokeswoman for the city Medical Examiner, who confirmed the death after a News inquiry.
The cause of death was listed as “disseminated herpes simplex virus Type 1, complicating ritual circumcision with oral suction.”
City officials declined to comment Friday.
It’s unclear who performed the circumcision.
In 2004, city health officials revealed that a baby boy died after a circumcision carried out by a Rockland County rabbi who specializes in the centuries-old, ultra-Orthodox ritual known as metzizah b’ peh.
Under the practice, the rabbi or mohel removes blood from the wound with his mouth — a practice city health officials have criticized, saying it carried “inherent risks” for babies.
In 2004, three infants circumcised by Rabbi Yitzchok Fischer were determined to have contracted herpes, city officials said.
Among them were twins circumcised in October 2004 after Fischer performed the religious ceremony known as a bris.
Ummmm
And how exactly did this mohel contract the disease??
Mendy Hecht
Don’t forget that 100,000 people die in modern American hospitals each year of HAIs–hospital-acquired infections.
Maybe we should shut down hospitals too?
shlucha
Type 1 herpes are cold sores.
Very easy to catch.
Type 2 is transmitted in an inappropriate way.
atzuv
haShem Yishmor.
Can’t mohels take a test for that on a regular basis through a local doctor?
To 1
Also known as cold sores, and is very common. It’s called Google.
Herpes 1 is the Cold Sore Virus.
No. 1 – No need to question how the mohel had the virus. The disease was Herpes Simplex 1 – it is the same virus that causes cold sores. Many people are carriers, although not always infectious. It is not the type of Herpes that is an STD. Many people confuse the different types. There are several different types of viruses that are part of the Herpes family. Herpes Simplex 1 is not particularly dangerous for adults, but can be very dangerous for an infant.
blame game
1. Who said the Mohel definitely has herpes?
2. What if he does/did & didn’t know?
3. Herpes is not an uncommon disease. If you have ever had a cold sore you have had herpes. It’s a virus & you can have this virus (maybe some strains, not all) & don’t know it’s in your body. I think I was told the virus can stay for years & you may not know.
4. Maybe the mother had herpes?
5. Maybe the doctor or a nurse or someone else who came into contact with the baby was infected?
Before everyone is so quick to blame the Mohel I think people need to consider all the possibilities. It’s a terrible tragedy but maybe there’s no “blame” & it was just an accidental infection, not from carelessness or uncaring. Lets not rush to judge.
me
there are many different kinds of herpes viruses, and some just look like cold sores and can be spread through saliva (drinking out of someone else’s cup).
just because the mohel had herpes does not mean he was up to any shady business, though if he knew he had it (especially after the previous cases) i don’t understand why he thought it was ok to continue being a mohel.
this is so so sad and my heart goes out to the families.
ANONYMOUS
It comes from cold sores in the Mohel’s mouth. Cold sores are a form of oral Herpes.
Responsbility
NO MOHEL SHOULD PERFORM A BRIS WHEN HE HAS A CANKER SORE OR COLD SORE IN HIS MOUTH.
sarah
for someone to have a herpes is not a deseas… its ok, just need to take care of it.. when the baby gets it its really bad and dangerous.
herpes simplex Type One
Herpes simplex virus Type 1, is the common “cold sore.”
Oral herpes is a common infection of the mouth area. It is caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Most people in the United States are infected with this virus by age 20.
After the first infection, the virus goes to sleep (becomes dormant) in the nerve tissues in the face. Sometimes, the virus later “wakes up” (reactivates), causing cold sores.
To comment-er number 1. YOU have it too. Don’t insinuate things that are completely not connected. And don’t mix up herpes simplex Type 1, with Type 2.
to #1
It could have been from drinking from a used cup at a kiddush, etc.
What a horrible man!
What a sick AND irresponsible thing to do! Get yourself tested if your going to do such a thing!!!!!!
Please have kovoyd HaTorah!
To the ignoramus #1 above and anyone else who is choyshed bichshayrim in a mohel no less, please read below about type 1. How likely it is that so many of us carry this very virus!
From http://www.webmd.com/genita…
“Herpes simplex viruses — more commonly known as herpes — are categorized into two types: herpes type 1 (HSV-1, or oral herpes) and herpes type 2 (HSV-2, or genital herpes). Most commonly, herpes type 1 causes sores around the mouth and lips (sometimes called fever blisters or cold sores)…Herpes simplex type 1, which is transmitted through oral secretions or sores on the skin, can be spread through kissing or sharing objects such as toothbrushes or eating utensils.”
to #1 and all
Herpes type 1 is know as oral herpes that cause ‘cold sores’ and usually are not like type 2 which are mostly genital.
I premed I wrote a paper on this issue and it is still in the news…funny that shchita is still an issue and medically it is safer since brain/nervous matter is not making it into muscle like when the brain is stunned. So mad cow is not possible in Kosher meat.
Makes you wonder
The same method has been used for thousands of years abd herpes has been around just as long. Makes you wonder how many thouands of boys died when they didn’t know about the cause.
Now that they know and can prevent it the nothing will change and more will die because what is written must be done. Science be dammed it’s the Torah way or the highway,
Boruch Bendyt.
Why not just do metzitza through a pipe, and avoid ANY deaths?
its time
the issue is metzizia b’pe – it should no longer be done…
babies are dying and it is NOT the essential part of the bris.
yuck
Sounds like a pretty disgusting procedure in the first place.
EducateD
oy vay
Stalin was right!!!!!!
We were too primitive and immature to accept modern science!!!!
medical science is only there to help you!!
Those who don’t vaccinate should be imprisoned!!
Kaperseky
All you media suckers are infected with a bigger virus that hijacks your own minds.
No physician stated that the Mohel had a cold sore. It was a POSSOBILE source among a hundred other POSSIBLE sources. But sensationalism is a good thing – better, “Primitive Jewish Ritual” – and it gets even better once the stereotypical lowlife goy hears the technical aspects of the “ritual.” He associates metzitza bipeh with, lihavdil, the filth of where his own peh had been.
This makes for good, solid, headlines. This is what Jew haters feed on. Primitive Jews!
Milhouse
#19. Who told you it’s not essential? Major poskim, including those whom we follow, disagree.
Jeffery L.
If God told me to cut my son, I would do it even though it will kill him. That’s what Abraham did.
Nobody ever said circumcision was not painful.
If you wan’t a god who is more accommodating, try Christianity.
To #16
thanks for your input. Now try telling blood banks who won’t take my blood because I lived in the UK. I never ate treif! Yet at the same time they scream about a shortage of blood so who is at risk?
Roch
What should you do? Test for cold sores? Herpes Simplex Type 1 is a virus, it is cold sores…..anyone can get the virus, anyone. Doesn’t mean it was by an inappropriate act. It’s a terrible thing that happened, but again, its a cold sore virus.
to #21
I hope that is sarcasm.
AMAZING!
perfect, just what we need for ppl ho want to ban circumcision…
Anon
Putting a mouth on a baby’s … is disgusting and inappropriate. I don’t know how anyone can be okay with that.
“stereotypical lowlife goy”
A great amount of non-Jewish males are circumcised because it’s not just a religious standard in Christian sects but also done for medical reasons.
What exactly is a stereotypical lowlife goy? Someone who starts fights in a religious institution? Or is that tzfatim? Males who call women names and spitting on them for how they’re dressed? Or are those frum men in Israel? I’m so confused.
As different as you think you might be from non-Jews, you’re really not.
24, Christianity doesn’t consider J a god but the son of G-d. If you’re going to rip on a religion, at least know what it’s about. You’re being just as ridiculous as people I’ve encountered who ask about “the Jewish god”.
Dovid
Why not end the metzitzah bipeh DISGUSTING practice?
Nisht a Maskil
The same method has been used for thousands of years abd herpes has been around just as long. Makes you wonder how many thouands of boys died when they didn’t know about the cause.
==
Makes me wonder how it is that there are not far MORE fatalities chas vesholom. In the entire FSU, where there are still problems with hygiene, there has NOT BEEN ONE SINGLE fatality linked to a bris, and all mohalim here do it properly.
There must be some other factor involved. Instead of capitulating to the anti-Semites, self-hating Jews and self-appointed “enlightened ones,” we need to find out what that other factor is. It will probably turn out that the babies who were affected (four so far out of how many thousands in the past 7 years) had some other problem L”A.
Wash your hands people!
We wash our hands ritually all day…MOHEL’S: ADD SOAP!
Dear #21...
Are you serious? I’m sorry to say this, but I’M ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED!! That Rosha Stalin – Yemach Shemo V’Zichro – was not right in a single thing he did…even in the smallest detail. Oy vey!!
Aaron Cohen
WHY WHY ?! do you publicize any comment even those written by blatant “amei horatzim” what’s the point ? or is that everyone hase an opinion and we have to respect it if so ask all your readers how to conduct your life your website your……. I think you got the point. Hatzlacha b’peh
Levi
Most people who are commenting are not a 100 percent right. Herpes simplex 1 can also be an STD. I will no go into detail since this is a lubavitch site but hint: The baby did contact an STD, although it was simplex 1. Around 40 percent of herpes STD’s are simplex 1
to Levi
The baby did contact an STD, although it was simplex 1
?????
Do you know what you are saying? Do you understand what an STD is and how it is transmitted by definition? Never mind that no other source mentions that this unfortunate incident was caused by an STD.
I will say no more. This line of discussion had better stop because someone has stuck his foot into his mouth far deeper than is necessary even for metzitza bapeh!
To #36
Your a fool! I’m a pre-med student, so before telling me what I don’t know, I think you should do some research. I will repeat myself again: This mohel gave the kid an STD. It does not matter if the mohel had an STD or not, what matters is that the mohel transfered herpes to his genitilia – which makes this a case of an std.
Doc Marten, Papa Doc, Dr. Pepper
herpes to his genitilia
GENITILIA? Thanks for the Purim laugh.
I guess you will end up studying voodoo medicine at the Duvalier Voudou Centre on Nostrand. In any case, pre-med hardly makes you qualified to pasken medical questions because all you did was to confuse people and create a horrendous chilul Hashem. Even if there is a slight technical chance you are right under someone’s dubious technical definition, you don’t realize what a horrendous thing you said because you are a kid who is looking to show off knowledge that you don’t have.
STD does NOT mean transferred to the GENITALIA except when certain sources define it without using a certain word. It means something very specific that is spelled out in medical sources for all but a few leftover Puritans.
And it is not YOUR a fool – it is YOU’RE a fool.
Levi
I’m sorry for not proofreading my comment.
“Knowledge that you don’t have” – really? Are you going to tell me that this is NOT an STD? You may be able to convince a 770 bucher, but not me mate. Again, anytime herpes transmits from the mouth to the genitilia is an STD.
Health professional giving an opinion
Note the cause of death “disseminated herpes simplex virus Type 1, complicating ritual circumcision with oral suction.” – Disseminated being the operative word. This baby probably would not have died just from Simplex type 1, it was complicated further and would have become a serious infection probably of the brain.