US Defense Secretary hospitalised again

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been hospitalized “for an “emergent bladder issue,” and has transferred his duties to his deputy. According to a statement from the Department of defense, Austin was rushed by his security detail to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center around 2,20 p.m. (1920 GMT) Sunday.Austin was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December and hospitalized, Xinhua news agency reported.The defense secretary, 72, was under scrutiny for failing to divulge his health issue (prostrate cancer diagnosis) and hospitalization. He had apologised for it last week.Meanwhile reports say the flu virus is still present in the United States, with some areas experiencing an increase in cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released data showing a decline in flu hospitalizations nationwide, but an uptick in respiratory illnesses in certain states.According to Alicia Budd from the CDC, while the country as a whole has reached its peak, there are still a few regions that haven’t yet peaked. In the Midwest, flu-like illnesses are on the rise, with 23 states reporting high levels, compared to 18 the previous week.Typically, flu season peaks between December and February, and this season’s peak occurred in late December. However, there is a possibility of a second surge, although it may be lower than the initial peak. So far, this flu season has been relatively typical, with an estimated 22 million illnesses, 250,000 hospitalizations, and 15,000 deaths from flu since October.@@@