GENEVA, Switzerland, May 21 (UPI) -- The director-general of the U.N.'s World Health Organization, 61-year-old Dr. Lee Jong-wook, is recovering from surgery following a blood clot on his brain.
A spokeswoman at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, Christine McNab, said Saturday Lee was being treated at the Cantonal Hospital of Geneva.
"He will be in hospital for some time," she said in a statement. "As a result, he will not be able to attend the World Health Assembly," from May 22-27.
"Lee suddenly fell ill this afternoon while he was attending an official function," McNab said. He was taken to hospital by ambulance.
"An examination determined he required surgery in order to remove a blood clot on his brain," she said and surgery was completed Saturday night.
Lee, a South Korean national, has worked for WHO for 23 years, at country and regional levels and at WHO Headquarters in Geneva. He has been in good health, McNab said.
Director-general of the U.N. health agency since July, 2003, he is married, and has one son.
