Infant's death at hospital linked to circumcision followed by oral suction

Under the practice, the rabbi or mohel removes blood from the wound with his mouth — a practice city health officials have criticized, saying it carried “inherent risks” for babies.

In 2004, three infants circumcised by Rabbi Yitzchok Fischer were determined to have contracted herpes, city officials said.

Among them were twins circumcised in October 2004 after Fischer performed the religious ceremony known as a bris.

Read the rest of the article in the New York Daily News by clicking the title of this post.

It seems the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is concerned enough about this practice, known as "metzizah b’ peh", that they have posted a warning on their website.  Here is an excerpt:

How metzitzah b'peh spreads herpes

In metzitzah b'peh, the mohel places his mouth on the freshly circumcised penis to draw blood away from the cut. If the mohel is infected with oral herpes (as most adults are), metzitzah b'peh can expose the infant to the herpes virus...Even without symptoms, however, people can spread the infection.

Because the immune system of newborns is not developed enough to fight serious infection, herpes infections pose grave risks to infants.

There is no proven way to reduce the risk of metzitzah b'peh

Although a mohel may use oral rinses or sip wine before metzitzah b'peh, there is no evidence that these actions reduce the spread of herpes. A mohel who takes antiviral medication may reduce the risk of spreading herpes virus during metzitzah b'peh, but there is no evidence that taking medication eliminates this risk...

Here is what appears to be a modern, balanced view of this practice by the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals.

Hopefully, some will learn from this story that unquestioning faith in a pre-scientific book is dangerous and not respectful of life.