Chief Medical Officer Nachman Ash of the Israel Defense Forces decided Sunday that all soldiers who participated in the Birthright program would be required to stay at home the following week. The leave will be considered as "regularly scheduled" at the expense of the system.
The decision follows a number of cases of swine-flu that were recently diagnosed among soldiers who took trips with the students who come mostly from North America where the disease has been prominent during the current pandemic. The military wants to ensure that the virus does not spread among the ranks.
Birthright is a Jewish Agency program that brings college students free of charge to Israel for a short visit.