Sharon 'stable' after double-pneumonia scare

The hospital treating Israeli former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said today he was in a stable condition, two days after being put on antibiotics for double pneumonia.

Chaim Sheba Medical Centre on Monday said a scan had revealed deterioration in Sharon’s brain function, his urine output had decreased significantly and a chest scan showed that both lungs were infected.

Doctors were treating him with broad-spectrum antibiotics and steroids, the hospital said at the time.

Asked for an update today, Sheba spokeswoman Anat Dolev would not say if the treatment was continuing or if Sharon was responding.

“There is no change that justifies a new statement,” she said.

“His condition is stable.”

Sharon, 78, has been in a coma since suffering a massive stroke on January 4. He has since undergone several extensive brain operations to stop cerebral haemorrhaging in addition to other, relatively minor procedures.