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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41288626/ns/world_news-africa
(Reuters) - Former South African President Nelson Mandela is recovering from a collapsed lung and could be released from hospital as early as Friday, a source close to Mandela told Reuters on Thursday.
The 92-year-old anti-apartheid icon was admitted to a Johannesburg hospital on Wednesday for what his foundation described as routine tests.
"Mandela was treated by military doctors and should be discharged tomorrow," the source said, asking not to be named.
There has been no official word from the hospital, government or Mandela's foundation on the nature of his illness.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation declined to comment on his health on Thursday but said in an earlier statement: "He is in no danger and is in good spirits."
President Jacob Zuma and the ruling African National Congress appealed for calm on Thursday after the hospitalization set off speculation in local media about Mandela's health.
"President Mandela is comfortable and is well looked after by a good team of medical specialists," Zuma said in a statement. The ANC said there was no cause for alarm.
"He is a 92-year-old and will have ailments associated with his age, and the fact that he stayed the night should not suggest the worst," ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu said.
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, a collapsed lung, pneumothorax, is "the collection of air in the space around the lungs," making it more difficult to breathe.
Treatment can vary from allowing the body to repair the problem on its own to placing a tube in the chest to relieve the pressure.
Several members of Mandela's family, including his wife Graca Machel, visited the hospital after his admission, Reuters witnesses said.
Police were called in to control traffic at the Milpark Hospital in a leafy Johannesburg suburb as scores of journalists, photographers and television crews converged on it.
LOOKING FRAIL
Mandela has not been seen in public since the soccer World Cup final in July last year.
Mandela retired from public life in June 2004 before his 86th birthday, telling his compatriots: "Don't call me, I'll call you."
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70Q22620110127
Earlier story today
Former South African President Nelson Mandela is recovering from a collapsed lung and could be released from hospital as early as Friday, a source close to Mandela told Reuters on Thursday.
The 92-year-old anti-apartheid icon was admitted to a Johannesburg hospital on Wednesday for what his foundation described as routine tests.
"Mandela was treated by military doctors and should be discharged tomorrow," the source said, asking not to be named, Reuters reported.
Mandela undergoes regular hospital checkups, but his latest visit stretched into an unusually long stay and drew extraordinary media attention. Journalists were standing outside the hospital Thursday, watching Mandela's relatives and friends enter for visits.
The Times Live website reported that Mandela's former wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, left the Milpark Hospital in tears after paying a visit. Several more of Mandela's family members, including his wife Graca Machel, have also visited him, witnesses told Reuters.
President Jacob Zuma and the ruling African National Congress appealed for calm on Thursday after the hospitalization set off considerable speculation in local media about Mandela's health.
"President Mandela is comfortable and is well looked after by a good team of medical specialists," Zuma said in a statement. The ANC said there was no reason to panic.
"He is a 92-year-old and will have ailments associated with his age, and the fact that he stayed the night should not suggest the worst," ANC spokesman
Mandela's office has released only a brief statement saying the hospital visit was for routine tests and that he was in "no danger and is in good spirits." His spokesman did not return calls seeking more information.
Talk Radio 702 reported that Mandela had been seen by a specialist pulmonologist, who treats respiratory systems.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41288626/ns/world_news-africa
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41288626/ns/world_news-africa
(Reuters) - Former South African President Nelson Mandela is recovering from a collapsed lung and could be released from hospital as early as Friday, a source close to Mandela told Reuters on Thursday.
The 92-year-old anti-apartheid icon was admitted to a Johannesburg hospital on Wednesday for what his foundation described as routine tests.
"Mandela was treated by military doctors and should be discharged tomorrow," the source said, asking not to be named.
There has been no official word from the hospital, government or Mandela's foundation on the nature of his illness.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation declined to comment on his health on Thursday but said in an earlier statement: "He is in no danger and is in good spirits."
President Jacob Zuma and the ruling African National Congress appealed for calm on Thursday after the hospitalization set off speculation in local media about Mandela's health.
"President Mandela is comfortable and is well looked after by a good team of medical specialists," Zuma said in a statement. The ANC said there was no cause for alarm.
"He is a 92-year-old and will have ailments associated with his age, and the fact that he stayed the night should not suggest the worst," ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu said.
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, a collapsed lung, pneumothorax, is "the collection of air in the space around the lungs," making it more difficult to breathe.
Treatment can vary from allowing the body to repair the problem on its own to placing a tube in the chest to relieve the pressure.
Several members of Mandela's family, including his wife Graca Machel, visited the hospital after his admission, Reuters witnesses said.
Police were called in to control traffic at the Milpark Hospital in a leafy Johannesburg suburb as scores of journalists, photographers and television crews converged on it.
LOOKING FRAIL
Mandela has not been seen in public since the soccer World Cup final in July last year.
Mandela retired from public life in June 2004 before his 86th birthday, telling his compatriots: "Don't call me, I'll call you."
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70Q22620110127
Earlier story today
Former South African President Nelson Mandela is recovering from a collapsed lung and could be released from hospital as early as Friday, a source close to Mandela told Reuters on Thursday.
The 92-year-old anti-apartheid icon was admitted to a Johannesburg hospital on Wednesday for what his foundation described as routine tests.
"Mandela was treated by military doctors and should be discharged tomorrow," the source said, asking not to be named, Reuters reported.
Mandela undergoes regular hospital checkups, but his latest visit stretched into an unusually long stay and drew extraordinary media attention. Journalists were standing outside the hospital Thursday, watching Mandela's relatives and friends enter for visits.
The Times Live website reported that Mandela's former wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, left the Milpark Hospital in tears after paying a visit. Several more of Mandela's family members, including his wife Graca Machel, have also visited him, witnesses told Reuters.
President Jacob Zuma and the ruling African National Congress appealed for calm on Thursday after the hospitalization set off considerable speculation in local media about Mandela's health.
"President Mandela is comfortable and is well looked after by a good team of medical specialists," Zuma said in a statement. The ANC said there was no reason to panic.
"He is a 92-year-old and will have ailments associated with his age, and the fact that he stayed the night should not suggest the worst," ANC spokesman
Mandela's office has released only a brief statement saying the hospital visit was for routine tests and that he was in "no danger and is in good spirits." His spokesman did not return calls seeking more information.
Talk Radio 702 reported that Mandela had been seen by a specialist pulmonologist, who treats respiratory systems.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41288626/ns/world_news-africa
