Some assume pneumonia is an inevitable consequence of ageing, while others may not realise they are at risk, says infectious disease specialist Dr Leong Hoe Nam. SINGAPORE: The past few months have been a sobering reminder of how deadly respiratory illnesses can be. Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu and American actor Val Kilmer succumbed to pneumonia, at the ages of 48 and 65 respectively. The 88-year-old Pope Francis battled a complex respiratory tract infection , requiring a five-week hospital