CLEVELAND — A viral infection is the likely cause of the abdominal distress that sent former President Jimmy Carter to a Cleveland hospital after a flight from Atlanta, medical staff said Wednesday.
Carter, who was spending a second night in the hospital, was recovering and the viral infection was clearing up, said a statement from MetroHealth Medical Center.
“President Carter thanks all those who have expressed concern and sent greetings to him,” the statement said.
The 85-year-old ex-president became ill Tuesday during the Delta Air Lines flight, causing rescue crews to rush him to the hospital after the plane landed. He was placed under round- the-clock monitoring by a team of doctors.
“President Carter is in very good spirits, . . . and looks forward to getting back to his busy schedule,” hospital officials said in an earlier statement Wednesday.
Carter’s medical team had recommended that he stay a second night for additional monitoring, hospital spokeswoman Susan Christopher said.
