Neonatal Herpetic Infection

A fatal case of disseminated herpetic infection occurred in a newborn whose mother had primary genital type 2 herpes. The source of the infection was the father, a serviceman who returned from overseas with active penile herpes one week prior to his wife's delivery. Cesarean section, after rupture of membranes, failed to prevent the infant from acquiring the infection. Pregnant women, particularly in the last trimester, should avoid contact with males with known penile herpes.