Gov. Bredesen remains hospitalized with fever

Gov. Phil Bredesen remained hospitalized Thursday to allow doctors to control a recurring fever they believe may have been caused by a tick bite, his office said.

Bredesen, 62, has been at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville since Monday night after becoming ill with a severe headache and high fever.

The governor said in a statement issued by his office that doctors are “awaiting test results to determine, conclusively, whether the cause of my symptoms was a tick bite.”

“In the meantime, I’m working to beat back a stubborn fever that comes and goes,” he said. “Until that fever subsides for good, the doctors have advised me to remain at Centennial, and I’m taking their advice.”

Bredesen said he was still following state business while recovering and is catching up his newspaper reading. He was forced to cancel a Wednesday speech to the National Conference of State Legislatures, which is in Nashville for its annual meeting.

When contacted by The Associated Press on Thursday, a spokeswoman at Centennial Medical Center said a privacy law prevents the hospital from discussing a patient’s case.

Ticks in Tennessee are commonly associated with transmitting Lyme disease, which can cause symptoms similar to those suffered by the governor. Lydia Lenker, a spokesperson for the governor, said she did not know if doctors believed Bredesen had been exposed to Lyme disease.

She also didn’t say when the governor may have encountered a tick, but said he enjoys activities like fishing, and has had several outdoor events in recent weeks as he campaigns for re-election.