The Perils of Penitence

Regarding my previous post, I've always had the feeling something like this might happen, considering the bloodletting and all:

More than a hundred men in the Philippines may have contracted rabies after taking part in a self-flagellation ritual to mark Good Friday, doctors and local authorities said on Thursday.

A health alert was issued after a man who took part in the traditional ceremony – where participants slash their backs with knifes before flaying themselves with bamboo whips – died from the virus on 11 April.

Mario Morales, the mayor of Mabalacat in Pampanga province north of Manila, told local media that Eduardo Sese may have contaminated up to 100 people who shared knives to cut themselves. He was bitten by an infected dog in February 2007.

In this age of HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C and goodness knows what other viruses out there, people should be more sensible about this stuff.

h/t: Boing Boing)

Tags: holy week, semana santa, penitence, catholicism, rabies, philippines, news

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