Swine flu hasn’t been as bad as feared. But it has killed 163 worldwide, including a New York Jew, and infected more than 35,000. Most recently, at least 10 American Jews participating in Birthright Israel contracted the H1N1 virus and were quarantined in Israel after infecting 18 IDF soldiers.
There was concern that—get this—Israeli President Shimon Peres was exposed to the virus when he hugged and shook hands with about 120 Birthright participants. He’s been tested and cleared; the infected American Jews were quarantined.
“It is not their fault they got sick,” Peres said, “and I believe everybody will be okay.”
A bit more from the BBC.
