Jerusalem – One third of Israeli babies who are diagnosed with herpes contract the disease as a direct result of metzitza b’peh, according to a new study conducted by doctors at Wolfson Medical Center in Holon.

According to reports in Maariv, the study, which was performed by Dr. Diana Char, Dr. Michael Stein and Professor Eli Somech and included babies in five different Israeli hospitals over an eight year time span, found that the act of metzitza b’peh was a direct cause of herpes in babies. Twenty two babies included in the study contracted herpes after their bris.

“The number of Israeli babies who are diagnosed with herpes after their bris is the highest in the world,” reported Dr. Char. “Metzitza b’peh was performed on seven of those children and of those seven babies, two suffered brain damage and one is permanently disabled. It is important to remember that we are talking about a disease that can be life threatening and can result in death.”

Dr. Char added that the study included just five hospitals in central Israel and it is likely that the actual number of babies who contract herpes following their bris is actually significantly higher.

Doctors are expected to prepare a written advisory to all new mothers, cautioning them to speak with the mohel prior to their babies’ bris, to determine if they plan to do metzitza b’peh and suggesting that suction be performed via a sterile pipette instead.

Israel’s Chief Rabbinate also released a statement last week calling on mohelim not to perform metzitza b’peh in order to prevent further cases of herpes.