NEW YORK CITY — The Department of Health has issued an alert after two newborn babies were recently infected by a rare form of herpes following ritual Jewish circumcisions.
Two cases of neonatal herpes — a potentially fatal disease — were reported across the city in July, and are just the 15th and 16th known outbreaks in the city since 2000 but the third this year, according to the Department of Health.
Two of those 16 infants died, and at least two others suffered brain damage, according to the DOH.
In both of the recent cases, the boys were circumcised and later suffered lesions to their genitals after a mohel passed the disease along through oral contact. The location of the lesions, timing of signs and symptoms were consistent, but the cases were not believed to be related, according to the DOH.
The Department of Health is warning parents who suspect that their newborns have contracted the disease to bring them to the hospital immediately.
