Health of the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is struck by a “new severe infection”, the government announced late on 4 March.

The information minister, Ernesto Villegas, said that there is worsening of Chavez’s respiratory function and confirmed the existence of a new infection exacerbated by his depressed immune system.

Villegas continued: “The president has been receiving high-impact chemotherapy, along with other complementary treatments. His general condi...