NYC Health Officials Say Second Jewish Infant Contracts Herpes From Circumcision Ritual

Health officials are linking a second case of neonatal herpes in the last three months to a Jewish circumcision ritual.

The New York City Department of Health says symptoms include fever and lesions around the groin area.

They say the infection can cause permanent cognitive and physical damage and even death.

It can be transmitted during an ancient religious rite know as metzitzah b’peh.

In January, the New York City Department of Health began requiring parents to sign an informed consent waiver to allow the procedure.