George H.W. Bush moved to intensive care unit

Former US president George H.W. Bush has been shifted to the intensive care unit in a Houston hospital. The former president is reportedly experiencing a very high fever since Sunday and spent Christmas in hospital.

According to his representative, Jim McGrath, doctors put the former US president under intensive care and on a liquid diet Wednesday evening. McGrath also said in a statement that Bush had a sequence of setbacks and was continuously under doctors’ watch, but was attentive and talking with family members and doctors.

“Following a series of setbacks including a persistent fever, President Bush was admitted to the intensive care unit at Methodist Hospital on Sunday where he remains in guarded condition,” McGrath said, according to the Washington Post. “Doctors at Methodist continue to be cautiously optimistic about the current course of treatment. The president is alert and conversing with medical staff, and is surrounded by family.”

Mr. Bush, 88, is the oldest living former US president and a World War II veteran. He also served as vice-president during the two terms of Ronald Reagan. He became president of the US in 1989. He was defeated by Bill Clinton when he ran for re-election in 1992.

Bush has been in and out of hospital since November when he was admitted to hospital for treatment for bronchitis. He has recently been under physical therapy to gain physical strength. His physicians expected him to recover fast and return home to celebrate Christmas, but Bush suddenly developed a high fever.

According to reports, doctors are treating his fever with Tylenol. The cause for the fever has yet to be established. He has reportedly recovered from the cough that took him to the hospital.

The former president was not able to celebrate Christmas as per traditions, but his family members were around him Christmas Day. His wife, Barbara, his son Neil and several other family members visited him Christmas Day. Bush celebrated Christmas with his family members by eating Chinese food in the hospital.

Doctors are optimistic that Bush will soon recover and return home.