Light new cases of the H1N1 swine-flu virus will be referred to health maintenance organizations instead of being immediately sent to hospitals, under instructions issued Sunday by Deputy Health Minister Ya'akov Litzman. Suspected victims will be referred to special infirmaries of the HMOs, where they will get instructions from doctors who have received special training regarding the disease, and will be immunized, as needed, with Tamiflu.

The victims will be hospitalized in case of complications. The deputy minister also removed the ministry's recommendation not to travel to Mexico, where the pandemic broke out.

While a number of the cases in Israel originated here, most have been brought in from abroad, primarily North and Central America. Minister Litzman expressed concern on Sunday about the 5,000 visitors expected next month for the Maccabiah games, asking for the official delegations to be checked before they enter the country.