Chavez's breathing problems worsen, has severe new infection

[NBCNews]

  Juan Barreto / AFP - Getty Images fileVenezuelan President Hugo Chavez speaking during a press conference in Caracas in 2012.By Daniel Wallis, ReutersCARACAS — President  Hugo Chavez's breathing problems have worsened and he is suffering from a new,  severe respiratory infection after undergoing cancer surgery in Cuba,  Venezuela's government said in a somber update on Monday.

Reading the  latest official assessment of Chavez's health, Information Minister Ernesto  Villegas said the 58-year-old socialist leader's condition was very delicate.


"Today there is a worsening of his respiratory function. Related to his  depressed immune system, there is now a new, severe infection," Villegas said.

"The president has been receiving high-impact chemotherapy, along with  other complementary treatments ... his general condition continues to be very  delicate."

Chavez made a surprise pre-dawn return to Venezuela from Cuba  two weeks ago. The government said he is in a tightly guarded suite at a Caracas  military hospital.

He has not been seen in public nor heard from since  his December 11 operation in Havana, his fourth cancer surgery since the disease  was detected in his pelvic region in mid-2011.

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