New York – New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley today issued a statement strongly urging that direct oral-genital suction not be performed during Jewish ritual circumcision, and announced that several hospitals, including those serving Hasidic Jewish communities and all Health and Hospital Corporation hospitals, have agreed to distribute a brochure that describes the risk of contracting the herpes virus from this practice, known as metzitzah b’peh.
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Health Department investigations of newborns with herpes virus between 2000 –2011 have shown that 11 infants contracted the herpes virus when mohelim, or ritual circumcisers, placed their mouths directly on the child’s circumcision wound to draw blood away from the circumcision cut. Ten of these infants were hospitalized, at least two developed brain damage, and two babies died.
“There is no safe way to perform oral suction on any open wound in a newborn,” Commissioner Farley said. “Parents considering ritual Jewish circumcision need to know that circumcision should only be performed under sterile conditions, like any other procedures that create open cuts, whether by mohelim or medical professionals.”
The medical risk for metzitzah b’peh is herpes simplex virus type 1. Many adults are infected with herpes simplex virus type 1, which is usually transmitted orally through common activities. It is different than herpes simplex virus type 2, which is usually transmitted sexually. A married couple who have only had sex with each other could still contract herpes simplex virus type 1 without sexual contact with anyone else. The common cold sore on the mouth is how Herpes simplex virus type 1 often presents, but most persons with infection do not know they are infected, because they have no history of symptoms.
For example, in November 2004, a Health Department investigation found that twins contracted herpes virus following a ritual circumcision which included direct oral-genital suction (metzitzah b’peh) even though the mother had no history of oral or genital herpes, nor was there any recent history of herpes among hospital staff who cared for the infants. At 16 days, the twins were evaluated for fever and lesions on their abdomens, buttocks and perineums, including their genitals. One of the twins died.
The Health Department brochure “Before the Bris” describes the risk to infants of contracting herpes through direct oral-genital suction and advises parents considering ritual Jewish circumcision to ask the mohel several days before the bris if he practices direct oral-genital suction (metzitzah b’peh). This will give parents time to talk to a health care provider and consider other options for circumcision.
The following hospitals have agreed to distribute “Before the Bris” to parents considering out-of-hospital circumcision of their newborn boys:
• All HHC facilities
• Maimonides
• NYU-Langone
• North Shore LIJ
• Staten Island University
• Lenox Hill
• New York Methodist
• New York Presbyterian
• Forest Hills
Some religious authorities approve of alternatives to direct oral-genital suctioning that avoid direct contact between the mohel’s mouth and the open wound of a baby’s circumcised penis, such as suctioning blood from the circumcision wound with a sterile glass tube, or using a sponge or sterile gauze pad to wipe the blood away. There is no evidence that these methods can spread herpes infection to newborns.
Harbeh shluchim laMakom.
And also don’t drive. Lots of people die from driving. Or crossing the street–don’t go to shul on shabbos.
And if you want to argue that it’s unnecessary, even if that’s true halachically, plenty of other activities are unnecessary–is it worth risking your life to go shopping? To visit your mother? (Do you have to risk your life for kibud av v’em?)
Most people would agree that these once in a million risks really aren’t legitimate concerns. Certainly in medicine, we don’t take these tiny risks into account. Unless, of course, it’s metzitza b’peh, in which case it has to be banned immediately.
Nice going Maimonides, Not!
GEVALD!!!!!! The jew-hating goyish government is obviously conducting a campaign to destroy our holy minhag mitzizh b’peh. They want to tear the Yidden away from the Torah by eliminating our holy minhag, which every mohel must be yehareg v’al yaavor for. Obviously our parents and mohelim MUST be willing to be moser nefesh (the nefesh of their child, not their own) for the holy Torah!!!
What I still don’t quite understand is —
Now is 2012. Why are these medical researchers citing an incident that happened 8 years ago in 2004. Even that incident is not clear cut where the child received the herpes. It was NOT proven that the mohel had the herpes. They are using deduction and circumstantial data to say “it must be the mohel, because we don’t know who else could have had it”.
In addition there were tens of thousands of brissim since 2001, but only a very “possibility” of 11 cases that “maybe” were caused by the mohel is cited. For sure, if its dangerous its one issue.
But the data described by the Health Commisioner himself is not very convincing.
The funny thing is, that all people responding to my coments will be wiser and have more facts than the Commissioner . They will quote every neighbor and friend that supposed that they had Herpes.
Honorable Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley,
Do you not think that the time has come to prohibit kissing
altogether and making it a first degree offense. I know that you do not want to research and publicize the statistics as to how many people have suffered and died due to diseases caused and spread via kissing. I think that forgoing kissing altogether is a small sacrifice by society to minimize the spread of diseases that have caused much death and suffering. I would appreciate a rational response from anybody regarding my suggestion as well as comparison between this and the danger of ‘Metzitzah B’peh’.
They have one case against millions of Yiddish infant boys. I live in a heavily populated boys neighborhood for years. Never an issue. Why r they starting up with us again?
I wouldn’t have a problem with the hospital’s decision, as long as they also allow brochures to be distributed that present “the other side of the story”. (i.e. including some of the arguments presented by comment # 1)
And,of course, NOBODY should interfere with the parent’s ultimate decision.
I also have a problem understanding how it’s possible in this day and age that there aren’t any precautions available to prevent the spread of Herpes, such as an ointment or oral rinse that would kill the virus on contact, or a simple (mandated?) frequently scheduled test that would detect if the Mohel is infected.
I gotta say, a Mohel with a certificate of being Herpes-free will make a MINT…
Go to any hospital and you will see the precautions taken with infection control. You will undestand how foolish it is to do Metzitza Bepeh with a direct contact of the mouth. Beside HSV1 there are a whole host of other infectious diseases that can be transmitted this way. In light of what modern medicine and science have learned about bacteria, viruses, and infection control and prevention, only an idiot would advocate ignoring the risk and try to defend this practice in the modern age.
How about making it illegal to do acts which spread HIV/AIDS. New York recently legalized gay marriage which is known to spread HIV/AIDS. It just shows their agenda. Not necessarily are they anti-Semitic, but they are definitely trying to appeal to the leftists.
Wow, you really are Naive or maybe just stupid! How can you compare kissing with suctioning an open wound by mouth?
The mohel in the picture included in the article does NOT engage in metzitzah b’peh.
Gay marriage will reduce, not increase, the spread of HIV, because it will encourage gay men to be monogamous.
Banning Metzitzah B’peh is part of their new plan to ban sugary drinks…
its time for the Frum community to realign are political interests, and move away from the BIG Gov Bloomberg and co + majority of the democratic party, and start voting for candidates the truly believe in personal liberty,religion freedom.
Hey Mr Farley, you’re not the first one to come up with these ideas, every generation klal yisroel went through people like you, and guess what? We are still around but the evil ones like you are long gone! Watch out, you are playing with fire!
“strongly urging”
Thank you, Mr. Commissioner, for your urgings. WADR, I prefer to follow my own urgings to toward Minhag Yisroel Torah.
OTOH, if you presume to extend your anti-Semitism to the point of pushing for a law, I suspect you will have quite a battle on your hands.
Perhaps we should all take a step back and look at the poskim that are expert in medical issues. Then feel free to comment. It is unbeliavable how much garbage is spewed on this website.
Insane behaviour produces insane results and sickness
hospitals, as any other medical professional knows how to be over protectionists! They do practice it constantly under threat of being sued! I don’t buy it and as long as my rabbi/dayan paskens that I should do it otherwise, I don’t even consider these “sugar makes you fat, not the triple burgers with the 5 slices pizza, or the 4 slices cheese cake etc.” professional opinions to be of any moral value!
You know for all of the supporters of science here, you would think that they know that science is based on evidence. How many children had a bris with Metzitzah Bpeh in New York over 10 years? 100,000? A 0.002% chance of fatality makes it safer than going to the hospital in the first place.
And no hospital staff had herpies type 1? A third of the population the United States has it. That is just not credible. And then here is the real kicker – it was never confirmed that a Mohel had it, let alone was the source of transmission. So they have no problem clearing the hospital staff, but can’t seem to clear the Mohel.
I’m sorry, but this is strictly about cultural ick factor, and has nothing to do with science.
With all due respect to the Commissiner Farley I have one question WHY WAS THERE NO DNA TEST DONE on the baby and Mohel? it could be done and it would have proven with near certanity if it came from the Mohel.
It is known that it had spread thru Health providers and parents as most people carry the virus so unless a DNA is done I won’t be convinced that it comes from the Mohel.
The city has not convicingly proven that it comes from the Mohel its based mostly on Hersay and far out circumstantional evidence
Talk is cheap. Would all the proponents still feel this way of chas v’shalom it was their child who became ill?
In the past Herpes was not around like today. I hope someone could explain why Hashen Yisbarach would want us to take chances that are not necessary to be mekayem a Mitzvah if there is an alternative.
Its amazing how the self hating jews always respond with the same reasoning. No answers to sane questions. Simply a robo call. For example
1.Yea its only a minhag
2. If it happened to the rabbis son what would he say.
3. Yea if its one in 100,000 its also terrible.
4. The health commissioner only means the best for us
Why don’t these people adress the facts and the statistics.and not emotions of being anti rabbi, anti religion, anti custom, anti establishment etc.
If the facts wopuld prove otherwise then maybe everyone would look at things differently. BUT ITS NOT. Giving us 2004 data for a 2012 issue is not an answer
Is 11 babies out of 100,000’s is that real evidence. I think if there was a medication that ha a side effect with these numbers, it would be totally ignored.
I hope the public realizes how communist this city administration is in thinking. No sweet drinks. They try to control at every opportunity.l
As a Frum Jew, I am disgusted by the majority of comments here. We have to move away from the train of thought that the government is out to get us. Why don’t we look at it from the government’s perspective? They perceive a Jewish practice that potentially can kill a baby. They are told that there is another option that is acceptable by some Rabbis. The government doesn’t understand how significant minhagim are. All they know is that this practice is potentially dangerous.So what is our response? To say that it only affects 1:100,000 baby’s is ludicrous.One baby’s death as a result of this is one too many. Do we say that we are willing to sacrifice the life of a baby for the continuation of this minhag (I hope no one says this).Our response needs to be cautious and reasonable. We would like to continue this minhag that has endured for thousands of years but not at the expense of putting our babies at risk. Why don’t we sit down with the Commissioner of Health and come up with a sensible solution like having each Mohel certified by the city or state and require them to have weekly testing or some other standard program. Our response can’t just be that the Government is out to get us
According to the CDC’s morbidity and mortality reports MBP more than triples the rate of herpes for infants.
I have watched a VERY famous mohel make metzitza with a syringe, he barely put his mouth to it, and the syringe wasn’t even bloody,besides that he cut off the whole “or haperiah” together with the “orlah”, and did not make “periah” at all.
If your child became ill from something they ate would you try to feed them the same food again? Perhaps they have an allergy to that food and the doctor can test them for it…precautionary measures for those who want to take them. Mohels will always have a job…