MEXICAN actor Manuel Masalva, known for his role in the Netflix series “Narcos: Mexico,” is in critical but stable condition after falling ill during a trip to the Philippines.
According to a report from Deadline, Masalva was placed in a medically induced coma after contracting what was described as a “very aggressive bacteria” while traveling in the country. He is currently confined at a hospital in Dubai.
The update was first shared by Jaime Jaramillo Espinosa, chief executive officer of JIM Management and Masalva’s manager, in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.
Espinosa said the actor underwent emergency surgery in late March after doctors discovered the infection had reached his lungs. Masalva has since been placed on antibiotics, and his lungs are reportedly responding to treatment.
Fellow Mexican actor and close friend Mario Morán has appealed for financial help on social media, citing the high cost of medical care abroad.
“My brother is fighting for his life far from home,” Morán said in a video posted on Instagram before the weekend. “Manuel Masalva—who is one of my best friends, who is really like a brother to me—fell victim to a very aggressive bacteria while he was on vacation. And this led to him being in an induced coma.”
He added that the actor’s condition remains delicate and the financial burden of treatment has prompted Masalva’s family to launch a fundraising campaign via GoFundMe.
“Any help, no matter how small, can make a difference in this difficult moment,” Morán said.
Masalva is best known for playing Ramón Arellano Félix in “Narcos: Mexico,” and has also appeared in several Mexican films and television series.
