Veteran Fox News anchor John Roberts is currently in the hospital after a severe malaria diagnosis, an illness he described as the gravest health challenge he has faced to date. The 68-year-old journalist opened up to PEOPLE about his condition, revealing his diagnosis came on Monday, August 25, following symptoms of widespread body pain and uncontrollable shivering during his broadcast.
Roberts thought he was initially dealing with muscle cramps or the flu. However, when blood tests showed low platelet and white blood cell counts, he was urged by his rheumatologist to seek emergency care. It was in the ER that he received the confirmation of malaria, a diagnosis that came as a shock but also with a tinge of dark humor for Roberts, who remarked, "Of course you have malaria… You never do anything in small measures." Despite not recalling a mosquito bite, he suspects contracting the disease during a trip to Indonesia earlier in the summer.
Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes infected with parasites. Common in tropical regions, the illness presents with fever, chills, and muscle aches, among other symptoms, and can lead to severe complications without prompt treatment. Though rare in the U.S., with around 2,000 annual cases mostly linked to travel, the CDC emphasizes that malaria was once endemic in the country until the early 1950s.
Roberts' treatment includes IV artesunate, the primary severe malaria medication in the U.S., but his recovery has been marked by ups and downs, including fluctuations in body temperature. Despite these challenges, Roberts is hopeful for a swift recovery and aims to return to work by Tuesday, September 2. His experience has been unique in his hospital, with one of his doctors noting that Roberts' case is the first he has ever seen.
The incident serves as a reminder of the risks associated with international travel to regions where malaria is prevalent and underscores the importance of preventative measures and awareness of the symptoms. For Roberts, who has been transparent about his condition on social media, the journey through this illness has been a humbling and eye-opening experience.
