Two more babies have contracted herpes through an ancient Jewish circumcision rite

David Saltonstall:

Two more babies have contracted herpes through an ancient circumcision rite, leading the city's top health official yesterday to release an open letter to the city's Orthodox Jewish community urging caution.

The practice, known in Hebrew as metzitzah b'peh, involves a practitioner, or mohel, drawing blood from a child's circumcision wound by mouth.

Last year, three baby boys - including one who died - were known to be infected with herpes during circumcisions by the same Rockland County-based rabbi, Yitzchok Fischer, who has since suspended the practice, officials said.

But two new cases of infection - neither of which appears to be connected to Fischer - have since been reported to the city, causing Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden to release his letter yesterday.

The letter steered away from urging a ban on oral suction, as some have suggested, and instead focused on trying to educate families about inherent risks.

"To help protect their baby," Frieden wrote, "parents should understand the risk of metzitzah b'peh - BEFORE the day of the [circumcision], while there is time to explore other options."

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