Former US president Bill Clinton admitted to hospital

Former US president Bill Clinton has been admitted to hospital in Washington after developing a fever.

The 78-year-old was admitted to Georgetown University Medical Centre in the 'afternoon for testing and observation', Angel Urena, Mr Clinton’s deputy chief of staff, said in a public statement.

“He remains in good spirits and deeply appreciates the excellent care he is receiving,” Mr Urena said.

Another source close to Mr Clinton told Sky News that the situation is 'not urgent', adding: "The former president will be fine.

"He developed a fever and wanted to be checked out. He is awake and alert.

Mr Clinton, a Democrat who served two terms as president from January 1993 until January 2001, addressed the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this summer and campaigned ahead of November’s election for the unsuccessful White House bid of Democratic vice president Kamala Harris.

In the years since Mr Clinton left the White House, he has faced some health scares. In 2004, he underwent quadruple bypass surgery after experiencing prolonged chest pains and shortness of breath.

Mr Clinton returned to the hospital for surgery for a partially collapsed lung in 2005, and in 2010 he had a pair of stents implanted in a coronary artery. Mr Clinton responded by embracing a largely vegan diet that saw him lose weight and report improved health.

In 2021, the former president was admitted to hospital for six days in California while being treated for an infection that was unrelated to Covid-19, when the pandemic was still near its height.