Mystery infections traced to blood-shedding religious ritual

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Mystery infections traced to blood-shedding religious ritual

By MIKE STOBBE
March 13, 2019

NEW YORK (AP) — Add self-flagellation to the list of ways to get a dangerous viral blood infection.

Researchers said Wednesday that they were initially puzzled how 10 British men had become infected with a little-known virus, because the men hadn’t taken risks usually associated with the infection.

But then investigators learned they had participated in blood-shedding religious rituals — cutting or whipping themselves — in Iraq, Pakistan, India and the United Kingdom.

“There have been suggestions that you might spread infections through this route, but it has never been described before” in a published medical study, said Dr. Divya Dhasmana of St. Mary’s Hospital in London.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/cd3b59369e7943ff90de2a8d10b13789

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Related: Self-Flagellation as Possible Route of Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus Type-1 Transmission (Ahead of print - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

[LuvNewcastle]

1. I've seen video of men walking around and around

that box in Mecca while cutting themselves and bleeding all over the place. Reminds me of the flagellants in the Middle Ages who thought they were warding off the plague. Religion and all sorts of body mortifications seem to go hand in hand.

[edhopper]

2. It is a particular God delusion

that lets masochism prove your faithfulness.

I have seen personal relationships with the same unhealthy dynamic.

"See God, I love you so much I will prove it by hurting myself"

Just sick.

[Igel]

3. Or tattooing and hepatitis C.

Or maybe the scarification that's practiced in some traditional cultures.

[edhopper]

4. The motive for tatooing

is not to feel pain to see how godly you are.
It might be foolish, but it's not the same thing.

[Act_of_Reparation]

6. How about no.

I didn't get my tattoos to make a sky wizard happy. I got them to make my body mine.

[Act_of_Reparation]

5. Play stupid games.

Win stupid prizes.

[Iggo]

7. Think "dirty needles." (n/t)