New York City Health Officials Claim That Metzizah Be'Peh Is To Blaim For More Infants Infected With Herpes

New York - City health officials said that they had identified two new cases in which infants were infected with herpes this year during a circumcision ritual practiced by some Orthodox Jews called Metzizah Be'Pah.

Health officials have identified at least five infants believed to have been infected during such procedures by Type 1 herpes, commonly carried by adults. One baby died and another may have suffered brain damage, health officials said.
Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, the commissioner of health and mental hygiene called upon parents to consider other religiously viable options, including using a tube or sponge. But he did not ban the practice.