symptoms

Feb. 3 (UPI) — Sen. Mitch McConnell was hospitalized Monday night after experiencing what his spokesperson said were “flu-like symptoms” over the weekend.

The 83-year-old Republican of Kentucky checked himself into a local hospital out of “an abundance of caution,” his spokesperson, David Popp, told Axios in a statement on Tuesday.

“His prognosis is positive and he is grateful for the excellent care he is receiving,” Popp said. “He is in regular contact with his staff and looks forward to returning to Senate business.”

Popp issued the statement after McConnell missed Senate votes on Monday and Tuesday.

The longtime Republican leader, a polio survivor who turns 84 later this month, announced nearly a year ago that he would not seek re-election in 2026 and would retire at the end of his term.

The health of McConnell has raised concerns about his future in the Senate following a series of falls and hospitalizations over the last few years.

In August 2019, McConnell suffered a fractured shoulder from a fall at his Kentucky home.

In March 2023, he was hospitalized for a concussion sustained in a fall at a Washington, D.C., hotel.

Prior to announcing his retirement, McConnell froze twice during press conferences, leading to concerns about him suffering from possible medical issues. He has not frozen in such a public manner since, but Politico reported that he is often seen needing assistance moving about the Capitol.

At more than 40 years of service, McConnell is the 10th longest-serving senator in U.S. history.

The contagious infection can cause similar symptoms to sea sickness

Holidaymakers aboard The Balmoral cruise ship claimed they were forced to quarantine themselves amid an outbreak of gastroenteritis. However, some passengers claimed the reports were overstated and most people actually had sea sickness. What is the difference between the two conditions?

Passengers reported regular tannoy messages warning about increasing cases of people with gastroenteritis symptoms. Fred Olsen Cruises’ director of health services, Kate Bunyan, told The Shetland Times that measures were introduced to reduce transmission onboard before the ship docked in Southhampton on Friday, January 30th. The ship’s next departure will also be delayed to facilitate a thorough deep clean while it’s in port, according to Chronicle Live.

Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis is a highly contagious bacterial or viral infection that causes diarrhoea and vomiting. It’s particularly common in young children but can affect anyone at any age.

The symptoms can be incredibly unpleasant but usually resolves itself within a week according to NHS Inform. People with signs of gastroenteritis are advised not to go to their GP to avoid spreading the disease and to call 111 or their GP instead.

Symptoms:

• Sudden, watery diarrhoea
• Feeling sick
• Vomiting which may be projectile
• Mild fever
• Loss of appetite, headaches and aching limbs are less common

There’s no specific treatment for gastroenteritis. People may have to simply let the illness run its course while getting plenty of fluids and rest.

Sea sickness

Sea sickness is a type of motion sickness that can cause similar symptoms to gastroenteritis but it is not contagious and can usually be relieved with a few simple actions rather than medication. It’s common to reaction to an unfamiliar motion, such as when travelling by boat.

It happens when the inner ear sense motion but the eyes don’t, leaving the brain with conflicting messages about what’s going on. For example, if you look at a stationary object such as land while travelling on a rocking boat, your inner ear will pick up motion that your eyes aren’t seeing.

Symptoms:

• Dizziness
• Feeling sick (nausea)
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Feeling cold and going pale
• Sweating

Pharmacists can recommend remedies to prevent motion sickness such as tablets, patches and acupressure bands. While experiencing sea sickness, there are a few ways to relieve the symptoms depending on what the cause is.

The NHS recommends sitting in the middle of the boat where there’s less motion and looking straight ahead at a fixed point like the horizon. Fresh air and focusing on taking slow, deep breaths can also help.