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Eugene

(62,648 posts)
Fri Mar 15, 2019, 12:51 AM Mar 2019

Mystery infections traced to blood-shedding religious ritual

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)

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Mystery infections traced to blood-shedding religious ritual (Original Post) Eugene Mar 2019 OP
I've seen video of men walking around and around LuvNewcastle Mar 2019 #1
It is a particular God delusion edhopper Mar 2019 #2
Or tattooing and hepatitis C. Igel Mar 2019 #3
The motive for tatooing edhopper Mar 2019 #4
How about no. Act_of_Reparation Mar 2019 #6
Play stupid games. Act_of_Reparation Mar 2019 #5
Think "dirty needles." (n/t) Iggo Mar 2019 #7

LuvNewcastle

(17,022 posts)
1. I've seen video of men walking around and around
Fri Mar 15, 2019, 02:28 AM
Mar 2019

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

(34,802 posts)
2. It is a particular God delusion
Fri Mar 15, 2019, 08:25 AM
Mar 2019

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

(36,082 posts)
3. Or tattooing and hepatitis C.
Fri Mar 15, 2019, 11:53 AM
Mar 2019

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

edhopper

(34,802 posts)
4. The motive for tatooing
Fri Mar 15, 2019, 12:25 PM
Mar 2019

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

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