Newborn Baby Dies After Contracting Herpes From A Kiss

A newborn baby died after contracting the herpes simplex virus from a kiss. "I never imagined that a kiss could kill my baby," Kiara's mother, who died 14 days old, told Daily Mail. Her parents Kelly Ineson and Thomas Cummins, from West Yorkshire, England, took their daughter to the hospital noticing that she was dramatically losing weight. According to the newspaper, four days later the doctors identified the infection but the girl's kidneys collapsed and she developed septicemia. The baby was in an induced coma before passing away.

The doctors notified the parents that the girl had contracted the herpes simplex virus through a kiss. Parents do not know who the person who infected their daughter was. "I have gone through every little detail of what happened in my mind, desperate to find an answer," the mother told the newspaper. "I never even imagined that a kiss could kill my baby in my worst nightmare and I don't want other parents to go through this."

The mother, who has three other children, advises other parents not to allow anyone to kiss their newborns since many people do not know if they have any viruses.

Informing the baby's little brothers about the newborn's death was the most difficult, says the mother. "They understand that Kiara is not coming back anymore, but they never saw her in the hospital so I'm glad they will remember her when she was healthy at home."

What he now wants is for other parents to inform themselves to avoid further tragedies. "All I want now is for parents and doctors to educate themselves on the herpes simplex virus and how devastating it can be," she says. "It can destroy lives."