Hillary suffers concussion, recovering at home

WASHINGTON, USA – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is recovering at home after suffering a concussion and plans to stay off work for the next week, a spokesman said Saturday.

“While suffering from a stomach virus, Secretary Clinton became dehydrated and fainted, sustaining a concussion,” Clinton’s top aide Philippe Reines said in a statement.

“She has been recovering at home and will continue to be monitored regularly by her doctors,” he added.

At the recommendation of her doctors, Clinton “will continue to work from home next week, staying in regular contact with Department and other officials,” Reines said.

The news came just as Clinton, 65, had been expected to testify on Thursday to US lawmakers about the findings of a highly-anticipated investigation into the militant attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

There are also a slew of Christmas festivities planned at the State Department next week that Clinton had planned to host.

The normally tireless top US diplomat was forced to cancel a trip to North Africa last week after she contracted the stomach virus on her return from a 5-day visit to Europe.

Clinton, former first lady and wife of ex-president Bill Clinton, is the most popular member of President Barack Obama’s cabinet, with approval ratings of over 60%.

Even though she is planning to step down as secretary of state early next year, Obama has not yet revealed his pick to replace her. Many believe that she will also take a second shot at being elected America’s first woman president in the 2016 White House race.

This week she denied again that she was planning to run in 2016, but said that her age would not play a factor in any decision.

“I am, thankfully, knock on wood, not only healthy, but have incredible stamina and energy,” she told ABC. – Rappler.com