A three-week-old baby is currently in serious condition at Bnei Zion Medical Center in Haifa due to a herpetic infection, which started in the genital area and has spread to the brain, causing seizures and convulsions.
Laboratory tests found that the baby probably contracted the herpes virus type 1 during his treatment, directly from the mohel, who performed the ceremony using the controversial orthodox blood-cleaning method known as “Metzitzah B’Peh,” or oral suction.
The Director of Pediatrics at Bnei Zion Medical Center, Prof. Itzhak Sarugo, said that “the baby was hospitalized in serious condition, with visible inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) accompanied by prolonged seizures and a severe skin infection that started in the groin area where circumcision was performed. “
Her parents brought the baby to Bnei Zion Hospital immediately after they noticed a large infection in the genital area after the brit.
During hospitalization in the pediatric ward, herpes virus was discovered in both the cerebrospinal fluid and the lesions on the baby’s skin.
During the first three days of hospitalization, the baby suffered numerous seizures despite receiving treatment for both the seizures and the virus.
Sarugo said that “the antiviral treatment he received aims to destroy the virus in the brain and prevent inflammation of the nervous system. The baby will have to receive this treatment for the next six months.”
“The herpes virus can cause a skin infection, which can spread to the brain and cause severe brain inflammation and even death,” said Sarugo.
The neonatal herpes virus can also be transmitted as a baby goes through the birth canal, though not through the placenta, which often leads to preventive caesarean surgeries.
However, in adults, the virus is most often transmitted through saliva, sexual contact, or blood transfusions.
The Bnei Zion Medical Center further stated that “the nature of the spread and onset of injuries in the groin area and the continued spread of injuries involve infection during the brit at the suction stage when there is contact between the mouth of the mohel and baby’s blood. “
The Talmud writes that a “Mohel (Circunciser) who does not suck creates danger, and must be fired from practice.” Rashi, commenting on that Talmudic passage, explains that the purpose of this step is to draw a little blood from inside the wound, to avoid danger to the baby.
