Following an out-of-hospital Jewish ritual circumcision in New York City over an 11-year period, 11 newborn males contracted the herpes simplex virus. Two died.
The circumcision procedures involved an ultra-Orthodox practice. The circumciser sucks blood away from the circumcision wound, which is called direct orogenital suction. Infants, according to the he CDC, who underwent ritual circumcision with confirmed or probable direct orogenital suction in New York City had 3.4 times the risk for herpes relative to male infants who were unlikely to have had direct orogenital suction.
The researchers note: “Health-care professionals advising parents and parents choosing Jewish ritual circumcision should inquire in advance whether direct orogenital suction will be performed, and orogenital suction should be avoided.”
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