Iowa Governor Terry Branstad was reportedly alert and conscious as he was taken by ambulance to a hospital, after becoming ill at an event at DuPont Pioneer in Des Moines.
Branstad, 68, was reportedly visiting to tour and make brief remarks, at a ribbon cutting at the facility, when he became ill Monday morning, January 26, 2015. The DuPont visit followed his regularly-scheduled news conference held earlier that same morning.
“During the transport, paramedics took the governor’s vitals and initial tests indicate that the spell was caused by a seasonal illness. The governor had been suffering from the effects of a cold,” said a statement issued by Iowa Governor’s Office spokesman Jimmy Centers.
Branstad was taken by ambulance to Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Centers said.
Centers later said the governor would stay in the hospital overnight “out of an abundance of caution,” and that Branstad had symptoms of a viral illness. “He is being observed and hydrated after having flu-like symptoms. The governor did have a flu shot this season,” Centers said.
Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds both initially cancelled their public events previously scheduled for Tuesday, January 27 “to rest and recover from seasonal illnesses,” Centers said. By Tuesday, Branstad and Reynolds had both cancelled their scheduled events for the remainder of the week.
“After seeing him both Monday evening and this morning, and personally reviewing his medical tests and records, it’s my opinion as a medical professional that the incident was caused by a mild flu and dehydration,” Centers said Tuesday, January 27. “We have ruled out other contributing factors, including cardiac issues and stroke. Governor Branstad will be able to resume a normal work schedule in the near future.”