George HW Bush
2 April 2016: Former US President George HW Bush attends the 2016 NCAA Men's Division I Championship semi-final game between the Oklahoma Sooners and Villanova Wildcats at NRG Stadium in Houston Robert Deutsch/Reuters

Former US President George HW Bush has been hospitalised as a precaution, a spokesman said on Tuesday (18 April). The Republican former president was admitted on Friday (14 April) with a mild case of pneumonia.

"President George HW Bush was admitted to B on Friday for observation due to a persistent cough that prevented him from getting proper rest," spokesman Jim McGrath said in a statement.

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"It was subsequently determined that he had a mild case of pneumonia, which was treated and has been resolved. President Bush is in very good spirits and is being held for further observation while he regains his strength."

McGrath told reporters: "He is already well on the path to recovery and going home."

The 92-year-old was previously admitted to hospital for nearly two weeks in January after suffering from a similar bout.

According to television station KHOU, Bush was placed on a ventilator and kept in ICU but managed to rally and had been stable since then. Former first lady Barbara Bush was also taken to the hospital in January.

The couple participated in the pre-game coin toss at the Super Bowl at NRG Stadium in February and were honoured by the Mensch International Foundation in March 2017.

In 2014, Bush was admitted to the hospital twice with similar symptoms and spent seven weeks fighting pneumonia. A year later, the 41st president suffered a broken bone in his neck after he fell at his home. Bush suffers from a form of Parkinson's disease, which has forced him to rely on a motorised scooter since 2012.

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