Should extreme Orthodox Jewish circumcision be illegal?

New York City is warning parents about a herpes-spreading, mouth-to-genitals circumcision ritual called metzitzah b'peh that has killed two babies In March, New York City confirmed that a second baby in 11 years had died of herpes contracted through an Orthodox Jewish circumcision ritual called metzitzah b'peh, where the rabbi or mohel cleans the blood from the baby's penis with his mouth. From 2000 to 2011, at least 11 baby boys in the city were infected with herpes simplex 1 — common in adults, deadly in infants — through the oral-genital ritual; 10 of them were hospitalized, two suffered brain damage, and two died. New York City's health department, in conjunction with all city-owned hospitals and eight private ones, is now distributing a pamphlet, "Before the Bris," explaining the dangers of metzitzah b'peh, especially targeting the ultra Orthodox haredi Jews who still practice it. Is New York stepping on Jews' freedom of religion, or should the city just outright ban an archaic, potentially deadly tradition that most Jews abandoned 150 years ago?

New York needs to quash this nonsense: A warning pamphlet is better than nothing, but "it is not enough," says Danielle Sullivan at Babble. "This practice needs to be outlawed." New York has to stop "hiding behind religion" and think about the health and lives of innocent babies. But above and beyond the herpes risk, there's a larger issue with this creepy ritual: "No grown man should ever be legally allowed to put his mouth on a newborn's penis... ever."
"NYC hospitals warn parents against extreme circumcision ritual"

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People are overreacting: Let's look at the numbers here, says Yossi Gestetner at Gestetner Updates: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were about 20,493 metzitzah b'peh circumcisions in New York in a six-year period, working out to 3,415.5 a year, or just under 10 a day. That means about one infant a year, out of 3,416, gets herpes. Extrapolating that math over 11 years, two out of 37,570 New York City babies who undergo this procedure die. To put that in context, "two fathers out of those 37,570 infants had a chance of God-forbid dying in a car accident." With those odds, New York should butt out.
"BEH! Federal gov estimates 10 strictly Orthodox Jewish brisen..."

Regardless, this is another black mark on circumcision: "While often harmless, if the mohel has an easily transmittable disease like herpes, serious problems can occur" from metzitzah b'peh, says Garth Johnston at Gothamist. What we're most curious about is "how this rallies calls to ban circumcision altogether, calls which have been popping up for a while now." Certainly, this is a point for the anti-circumcision "intactivists." But legal or not, tradition dies hard, and "we strongly suspect the age-old practice won't be going anywhere anytime soon."
"Circumcision sucking gave 11 NYC boys herpes..." 

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Apr 23, Vaginal Herpes: What Women Should Know about Genital Herpes?

Vaginal herpes is a sexually transmitted disease that keeps affecting more and more women. It can cause a lot of pain and even death to newborn babies. However a vast majority of women seem unaware of the situation.

Why it is important to know about vaginal herpesFemale herpes symptomsHerpes and pregnancy

Herpes should be a major concern for women because studies have shown that they are four times more at risk of getting infected with herpes than men. This is because their genital surface area is bigger and often moist compared to men’s.

Women are also prone to hormonal changes during menstruation, which tends to wreak havoc in their immune responses and expose them to genital herpes.

During an outbreak, the ratio of women manifesting severe symptoms of genital herpes such as painful urination and discharge is 4 out of 5, but only 1 out of 4 in men. Also, during an initial outbreak, 7 out of 10 women suffer from flu-like symptoms along with herpes such as fever, headache, swollen glands, and painful joints.

Still another reason why you should guard yourself against herpes is that people with herpes are four times more likely to get infected with AIDS.
Condoms may partially protect against herpes, although oral sex is also another way you can get the herpes virus.

Most women manifest only minimal herpes symptoms. Red flags to watch out for are blisters on or around your genitals or rectum. When blisters dry out during the first outbreak, they leave tender ulcers or sores that usually take two weeks to a month before they heal.
Another outbreak of vaginal herpes usually appears after a few weeks or months, but this is usually less severe and with shorter duration than the first.

You may experience flu-like symptoms during the primary outbreak of genital herpes. Take note, though, that women who have herpes infection usually only notice mild signs which they usually mistake for insect bites or other skin problems. This is the reason why most people only recognize the symptoms of vaginal herpes years after the onset of infection.

The herpes virus stays in the body indefinitely, but herpes outbreaks tend to diminish over time. Those with frequent symptomatic outbreaks of genital herpes are prone to more shedding, and are at higher risk of infecting others.

Medical experts say that 20 to 25 percent of pregnant women have herpes and 2 percent acquire it during pregnancy. Women who get infected with the genital herpes virus at the later part of pregnancy have a higher risk of transmitting it to their infants.

It is also possible for women with herpes to give birth to uninfected babies, although every year, some 1,500 to 2,000 new mother-to-baby herpes infections are diagnosed. A continued rise in the number of cases has been noted, leading experts to believe that vaginal herpes among pregnant women is also on the rise.

A mother may pass on the herpes virus to her baby before, during or after delivery, although the most common is during childbirth. It is estimated that 1 to 2 percent of pregnant women with recurring herpes have asymptomatic shedding (without noticeable symptoms) during childbirth.

The transmission happens during the passage of the infant through the herpes virus infected birth canal during delivery. This is the reason why doctors usually recommend delivery via a c-section.

They may be rare, but newborns getting infected with the vaginal herpes virus suffer life-threatening and long-term complications including damage to the brain and nervous system. Some even die even after prompt medical treatment.
Early warning signs of herpes infections in babies include fever, listlessness, skin sores and lack of appetite. Seek immediate medical help and testing for your child if you notice these symptoms.

The best way to protect your baby is to remain symptom free and avoid sexual contact with your partner. If your partner is infected he should do everything he can to protect you from getting vaginal herpes.If either of you is infected you should learn how to prevent and cure herpes.

Vaginal herpes or Yeast infectionHave you ever wondered if your symptoms were caused by a virus or a fungi? Do you want to know how to make the difference?

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Should You Tell Your Date That You Have Herpes?

So you've been single with herpes for a little while, none of your friends are aware of the fact that you have herpes - but insist that it's time for you to get out and start dating again. Being the caring friends that they are, they set you up on a blind date. Now in your mind, this is the worst thing that could possibly happen - however you decide to go on this date anyway as to not embarrass your friends. The date seems to be progressing well, but now you are faced with one question - should you tell your date that you have herpes?

First, let's get a few herpes facts out of the way:

1. Herpes is spread through skin to skin contact, this includes kissing as well. If you have herpes of the mouth, you can spread it by kissing.

2. Herpes can be spread even when you show no outward signs of an outbreak.

3. Herpes of the mouth can be transmitted to the genitals during oral sex.

Now that you have been reminded of how herpes is spread, let's answer the question of how and if you should tell your date. Although the herpes virus poses no threat to life, the disease is still very much misunderstood and demonized. Herpes is often the butt of the joke amongst the younger generations and this can make disclosing your status very uncomfortable. Unless and until you are very comfortable with the fact that you have herpes, it is not necessary to out yourself on the first date.

Before you consider telling a potential new partner about your herpes status there are a few things that you may want to think about:

1. Trust: Can you trust this person? No matter how comfortable you are with your herpes situation, not everyone needs to know that you are infected with the virus. If you tell this person, can you trust that they will keep it in confidence and not try to humiliate you amongst mutual friends or strangers?

2. Is there a future: Even though it's just a first date, you have to ask yourself if you really see any future dates with this person. If you're pretty certain that there won't be any more dates, then save yourself the trouble. However if you believe there will be multiple dates afterward know that you will eventually need to tell your new friend about your oral or genital herpes.

Not every date leads to a relationship or intimacy, so you should not feel compelled to talk about herpes until you have really confirmed whether or not there is any long term potential. If the idea of dating outside of the herpes community scares you - there are dozens of online herpes dating sites available. Visit herpes dating advice today for more tips.

Have you struggled with relationships since being diagnosed with genital herpes? Herpes doesn't signal the end of your love life. As managing editor of http://www.YouGotHerpes.com, Savannah Francis gives practical tips and advice on how to have a fulfilling and meaningful love life after herpes. For the best tips on dating with herpes, visit us today at Herpes Dating Sites

Should You Tell Your Date That You Have Herpes?

So you've been single with herpes for a little while, none of your friends are aware of the fact that you have herpes - but insist that it's time for you to get out and start dating again. Being the caring friends that they are, they set you up on a blind date. Now in your mind, this is the worst thing that could possibly happen - however you decide to go on this date anyway as to not embarrass your friends. The date seems to be progressing well, but now you are faced with one question - should you tell your date that you have herpes?

First, let's get a few herpes facts out of the way:

1. Herpes is spread through skin to skin contact, this includes kissing as well. If you have herpes of the mouth, you can spread it by kissing.

2. Herpes can be spread even when you show no outward signs of an outbreak.

3. Herpes of the mouth can be transmitted to the genitals during oral sex.

Now that you have been reminded of how herpes is spread, let's answer the question of how and if you should tell your date. Although the herpes virus poses no threat to life, the disease is still very much misunderstood and demonized. Herpes is often the butt of the joke amongst the younger generations and this can make disclosing your status very uncomfortable. Unless and until you are very comfortable with the fact that you have herpes, it is not necessary to out yourself on the first date.

Before you consider telling a potential new partner about your herpes status there are a few things that you may want to think about:

1. Trust: Can you trust this person? No matter how comfortable you are with your herpes situation, not everyone needs to know that you are infected with the virus. If you tell this person, can you trust that they will keep it in confidence and not try to humiliate you amongst mutual friends or strangers?

2. Is there a future: Even though it's just a first date, you have to ask yourself if you really see any future dates with this person. If you're pretty certain that there won't be any more dates, then save yourself the trouble. However if you believe there will be multiple dates afterward know that you will eventually need to tell your new friend about your oral or genital herpes.

Not every date leads to a relationship or intimacy, so you should not feel compelled to talk about herpes until you have really confirmed whether or not there is any long term potential. If the idea of dating outside of the herpes community scares you - there are dozens of online herpes dating sites available. Visit herpes dating advice today for more tips.

Have you struggled with relationships since being diagnosed with genital herpes? Herpes doesn't signal the end of your love life. As managing editor of http://www.YouGotHerpes.com, Savannah Francis gives practical tips and advice on how to have a fulfilling and meaningful love life after herpes. For the best tips on dating with herpes, visit us today at Herpes Dating Sites