|
Circumcision gives Orange County baby herpes: officials
|
View this Thread in Original format
| Trancealot |
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metzitzah_b%27peh
See 'Medical controversy'
| quote: |
NEWSDAY, June 26th , 2012
An Orange County infant has been hospitalized after contracting a deadly strain of herpes from an Orthodox circumcision ritual that has claimed the lives of two babies in New York City in the past decade, health officials told Newsday on Monday.
The month-old infant was admitted to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center in Manhattan last week after the ultra-Orthodox Jewish ritual known as metzitzah b'peh was performed in Orange County, according to state and New York City health officials.
State Health Department officials have joined with their counterparts in New York City and Orange County to determine from whom the child contracted the herpes simplex virus Type 1.
Officials were notified early last week, and tests conducted Friday confirmed the child had the disease, said Pete Constantakes, a spokesman for the state Health Department.
His condition is unknown, the Health Department said.
Word of the unidentified boy's illness comes as public health officials in recent months have become more aggressive in calling for an end to the centuries-old practice.
A federal Centers for Disease Control study released earlier in June revealed that 11 boys contracted the disease from 2000 to 2011 in New York City, where the cases have been clustered. Two died and two others suffered brain damage.
The most recent death occurred in September 2011, when a 2-week-old Brooklyn boy died at Maimonides Medical Center after the circumcision ritual.
The practice involves the mohel or rabbi removing blood from the child's penis with his mouth -- a practice decried by public health officials.
"Circumcision is a surgical procedure that should be performed under sterile conditions," the CDC report said. "Parents choosing Jewish ritual circumcision should inquire in advance whether direct orogenital suction will be performed, and orogenital suction should be avoided."
Although adults can fight off the herpes virus, an infant's immune systems usually is not developed enough to stave off a fatal outcome, health officials said.
Calls to Agudath Israel of America, a New York City-based group that has defended the ritual, were not immediately returned Monday.
Contributing to the frustration of health officials has been an unwillingness by parents to reveal the identity of the mohels.
In five of the 11 cases reviewed by the CDC, the mohel's identity is not known.
As a result, New York City health officials are considering requiring hospital workers to take genital swabs that would aid forensic investigators in determining the identity of the mohel, much like rape kits have helped identify attackers.
State officials say they're aware of the city's proposal but currently have no plans to follow with a similar one of their own.
New York City also has proposed requiring Orthodox Jewish parents to sign a waiver acknowledging they're aware of the risk before taking part in the ritual. The city already has sent out alerts to health care providers in Orthodox neighborhoods, informing them of the risks posed by metzitzah b'peh.
In 2004, three New York City infants circumcised by Rabbi Yitzchok Fischer, a Rockland County rabbi, contracted herpes through the practice. A twin boy died eight days after Fischer performed the circumcision. His brother also contracted the diseased but survived.
Fischer was directed by the New York City Department of Health to stop the practice.
Though the practice is not illegal, public health officials said they are trying to prevent the next death while balancing concerns about religious interference.
The CDC warns that aggressive action might be needed.
"To protect infants' health, public health departments might need to take legal measures to ensure mohelim associated with cases of neonatal herpes cease the practice of direct orogenital suction," the CDC said in its report.
|
|
|
|
| Halcyon+On+On |
| Oh, IGK. What have you gotten yourself into this time?! |
|
|
| EddieZilker |
| quote: | Originally posted by Halcyon+On+On
Oh, IGK. What have you gotten yourself into this time?! |
:stongue: :stongue: |
|
|
| Trancealot |
| I just posted this because when you read the news everyday and then see the same repeating itself you want more people to know WTF goes on in peoples minds. In this case ultra orthodox jews. I am jewish and had one but if I knew I got it this way and still lived to tell about it I think I would be pissed! Now these babies will live with herpes or not live. Sad |
|
|
| dj_alfi |
The parents who won't give up the name of the mohel should be arrested and charged with child endangerment, child abuse, 2nd degree manslaughter and obstructing justice.
The mohel should be put in a prison cell with a big black guy who likes to share.
Religious circumcision is wrong and cruel. Especially when you got -nuts like that doing it. And removing of blood with his mouth? C'mooooon. That's ing kiddie fiddling. |
|
|
| Sushipunk |
| quote: | | The practice involves the mohel or rabbi removing blood from the child's penis with his mouth |
:wtf: |
|
|
| wienerschnitzel |
| DID SOMEBODY SAY CIRCUMCISION?:gsmile: |
|
|
| Vector A |
And in other circumcision news, a German court has ruled that a baby's right not to be physically hurt outweighs the stupid religious beliefs of parents. What a revolutionary concept!
| quote: | German court rules circumcision is 'bodily harm'
A court in Germany has ruled that circumcising young boys for religious reasons amounts to bodily harm.
In a decision that has caused outrage among Jewish and Muslim groups, the court said that a child's right to physical integrity trumps religious and parental rights.
The case involved a doctor who carried out a circumcision on a four year-old that led to medical complications.
Thousands of Muslim and Jewish boys are circumcised in Germany every year.
Although male circumcision - unlike female circumcision - is not illegal in Germany, the court's judgement said the "fundamental right of the child to bodily integrity outweighed the fundamental rights of the parents".
Circumcision, it decided, contravenes "interests of the child to decide later in life on his religious beliefs". |
More from BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18604664 |
|
|
| srussell0018 |
 |
|
|
| tubularbills |
| well this is all sorts of :wtf: |
|
|
|
|
