Herpes Infects 3 NYC Infants During Circumcisions Since December

NEW YORK CITY — Three baby boys have contracted neonatal herpes after a circumcision ceremony that requires mohels to place their mouth on the infants' penises, according to a Health Department notice sent to medical professionals.

Since December, three infants have been hospitalized after undergoing metzitzah b’peh, a centuries-old ritual Jewish circumcision, the Health Department confirmed.

Health officials sent an alert to doctors Monday about the latest cases noting there is no cure for neonatal herpes, which can cause brain damage and death.

The most recent reported case of neonatal herpes in New York City before these three was in September, Newsweek reported.

In one of the three cases, hospitalization was delayed because health care providers did not recognize the signs of herpes infection, according to the notice.

There have been 169 babies diagnosed of neonatal herpes in New York since 2016, when the city first began tracking infections, and 22 were linked to ritual Jewish circumcision, the notice says. It's practiced in some ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities.

The city does not require mohels who perform metzitzah b’peh to be tested for herpes but relies on Health Department outreach to educate parents.

Since December, the Health Department has spoken to 43 clinicians who serve the Orthodox Jewish community and sent more than 30,000 providers with information on neonatal herpes.

"The spread of neonatal herpes through ritual circumcision is a public health risk," Health department spokesperson Patrick Gallahue said.

"To address this risk, we will continue to work with providers and families across our city to keep our youngest New Yorkers safe."