Somerville Mayor Hospitalized With 'Severe' Shingles Virus

SOMERVILLE, MA – Mayor Joseph Curtatone has been hospitalized with a "severe" case of shingles, his office said Tuesday. He is not expected to attend public events or work from his office at City Hall in the coming weeks.

The illness, which is the same as the chickenpox virus and affects nearly one-third of adults in their lifetime, is not life-threatening. In rare cases, such as the one afflicting Curtatone, the inner ear and facial nerves are affected.

The mayor remains in touch with staff and will likely be able to resume work remotely in the next few days, according to his office.

"Though he is no longer contagious, due to the impact on his inner ear, which controls balance, it is expected that Mayor Curtatone’s usually busy schedule could be impacted for several weeks," a city spokesperson said in a statement. "Of course, should his recovery go more quickly, he will return to his full schedule sooner."

Curtatone will likely be wearing an eye patch when he resumes his public duties. The process to a full recovery is expected to span the coming months, according to his office.

His wife, Nancy, will share a message from the mayor at the official launch of the city's climate action plan this Wednesday, Nov. 28.

Image via Mayor Joseph Curtatone Facebook