HOUSTON — Former President George H.W. Bush has been hospitalized after contracting an infection that has spread to his blood.
President Bush, who just buried his wife first lady Barbara Bush on Saturday, was admitted to the hospital on Sunday morning.
He was suffering from an infection that led to sepsis, which can be life-threatening, according to a source close to the former President. He was in critical condition, the source said.
MORE: PHOTOS: Barbara Bush funeral, procession
"President Bush was admitted to the Houston Methodist Hospital yesterday morning after contracting an infection that spread to his blood. He is responding to treatments and appears to be recovering. We will issue additional updates as events warrant," spokesman Jim McGrath said in a statement.
Statement by the Office of @GeorgeHWBush on President Bush's health. pic.twitter.com/8UkB53JHqD
— Jim McGrath (@jgm41) April 23, 2018
Bush, who uses a wheelchair and electric scooter for mobility after developing a form of Parkinson's disease, has needed hospital treatment several times in recent years.
A year ago this month, Bush spent two weeks in the hospital for treatment of pneumonia and chronic bronchitis. His doctors said chronic bronchitis is a condition more prevalent with age and can aggravate the symptoms of pneumonia.
Bush was hospitalized for 16 days in January 2017 for pneumonia. During that hospital stay, which included time in intensive care, doctors inserted a breathing tube and connected him to a ventilator.
He also was hospitalized in 2015 in Maine after falling at home and breaking a bone in his neck, and in December 2014 for about a week for shortness of breath. He spent Christmas 2012 in intensive care for a bronchitis-related cough and other issues.
George Herbert Walker Bush served as president from 1989 to 1993. Born June 12, 1924, in Milton, Massachusetts, Bush also served as a congressman, CIA director and Ronald Reagan's vice president.
The Associated Press and CNN contributed to this report.
MORE: George H.W. Bush: 9 things to know about the 41st president of the United States
CNN
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/7QOJU3BNCJERBNKJC5LWTBYFLU.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/3RKAD7UUTZHZHDNRFMQ7Y36JKA.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/KUBBF73BKRHZNIWNF4FHA7IUXM.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/A6ITVQI6VZF5TIX3ERJ63S3JBY.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/6LQBSMOTHRFYJFVEDTAWR6CJMI.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/4T5DQPKMMBBDHGIJK5ROAHZ2HM.jpeg)