Baby who contracted deadly virus from kiss dies

IOWA CITY, Iowa — An infant who contracted a deadly virus from a kiss has passed away.

Mariana Reese Sifrit was just 18 days old.

“Our princess Mariana Reese Sifrit gained her angel wings at 8:41 a.m. this morning in her daddy’s arms and her mommy right beside her,” Nicole Sifrit posted on her Facebook page Tuesday morning, “in her 18 days of life she made a huge impact on the world and we hope with Mariana’s Story we save numerous newborns life.”

Mariana was born July 1, healthy and happy. A week later her Iowa City parents noticed she wasn't eating. They rushed her to the hospital and doctors said she had contracted Meningitis HSv1.

Doctors said she most likely got the virus from someone who had a cold sore, likely a kiss.

Both her parents tested negative for the virus;  The Meningitis Research Foundation reports that a lot of people carry the virus without showing symptoms.

"It's horrific," Nicole Sifrit told WQAD. "Within two hours she had quit breathing and all of her organs just started to fail."

The family has started a GoFundMe to help with medical expenses. 

Cox Media Group