Mayor Menino Says He's On The Mend

The longest-serving mayor in Boston history says he's recovering from a viral infection and a compression fracture in his back even though he was "a pretty sick guy" when he first checked into the hospital almost two weeks ago.

Mayor Thomas Menino told The Boston Globe from his hospital room on Wednesday that the illness he came down with on a vacation cruise in Italy to celebrate his 46th wedding anniversary sapped his energy. He offered no timetable for a discharge.

He first checked into Brigham and Women's Hospital on Oct. 26. He suffered the compression fracture last week while in bed.

He has been in communication with his staff either via telephone or through visits to the hospital.

The Democrat was elected to a fifth four-year term in 2009.