The Senate’s oldest member has been hospitalized, possibly for weeks.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, California Democrat, is being treated in San Francisco for shingles, according to Fox News.
The office of the 89-year-old lawmaker confirmed the hospitalization Thursday.
“I was diagnosed over the February recess with a case of shingles. I have been hospitalized and am receiving treatment in San Francisco,” Ms. Feinstein said in a statement to Fox News.
“I hope to return to the Senate later this month,” she said.
Shingles primarily affects older persons who have had such childhood diseases as chicken pox and the primary effect is painful rashes that last for weeks, though nerve pain can persist even longer than that.
Ms. Feinstein, who will not be seeking re-election in 2024, told Fox that a “full recovery” is expected.
Democrats hold a narrow 51-49 majority in the Senate and Ms. Feinstein will not be the party’s only member knocked out of commission in the coming weeks. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who also suffered a stroke last fall, checked himself into the hospital two weeks ago for clinical depression and his return is not expected to be imminent.
• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.
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