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US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin
Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is back in the hospital, according to the Pentagon. His security service took him to a military clinic near Washington with symptoms of an acute bladder problem, ministry spokesman Pat Ryder said on Sunday afternoon. The White House and Congress have already been informed.
“The minister is currently retaining the functions and duties of his office,” the statement said. However, his deputy Kathleen Hicks is prepared to take over the functions and duties of the Minister of Defense in case of doubt. Austin has the necessary communication tools with him to carry out his duties from the hospital. We will inform you about his condition as soon as possible.
Austin only returned to work at the Pentagon at the end of January after a lengthy period of illness. At the beginning of the year he came under heavy criticism for keeping secret his diagnosis of prostate cancer and a hospital stay following complications from a procedure. Even US President Joe Biden didn't know for several days that his minister was in the hospital - but later confirmed that he wanted to stick with him. Austin was released from the hospital on January 15th and initially did not work from the Pentagon.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men in the United States after nonmelanoma skin cancer. In the early stages, the chances of recovery are generally good. The prostate is an organ the size of a walnut that surrounds the base of the urethra in men.
kfr/dpa