'Narcos' Star Manuel Masalva in Coma After Contracting Infection, Friend Says

Manuel Masalva -- an actor best known for his role in "Narcos: Mexico" -- is in a coma because of an infection ...

this according to fellow actor Mario Morán . Morán announced the news in a TikTok posted Thursday ..

. telling fans he'd contracted a "very aggressive virus" while on vacation. Waiting for your permission to load TikTok Post.

Masalva was taken to the hospital and put in a medically induced coma, Morán says in Spanish ...

before calling his situation "delicate." It's unclear where Manuel was on vacation ..

. but, it appears he's still far from home. A GoFundMe to support Manuel has also been set up.

In "Narcos: Mexico" Masalva played Ramón Arellano Félix -- a real person who cofounded and led the Tijuana Cartel before he was killed in a gunfight in 2002. While most American fans will recognize him from 'Narcos,' he's appeared in a number of shows and movies throughout the years ..

. including "La Guzmán," "Mi corazón es Tuyo," and the LGBTQ+-focused show "Tengo que morir todas las noches." We've reached out to Manuel's team .

.. so far, no word back.

.