John Roberts Diagnosed with Malaria

John Roberts, a correspondent for Fox News, has been diagnosed with malaria, a serious disease transmitted by mosquito bites. He shared this news on social media after being hospitalized this week.

The broadcast journalist, who is 68 years old, revealed in an interview that he experienced “uncontrollable shivering” while on air, leading to his diagnosis on August 25. He described the physical discomfort as a painful sensation from head to toe. Initially, he thought it was just muscle cramps, but the shivering made him suspect it was something more serious, like the flu.

In a tweet, Roberts expressed gratitude towards his colleague, Trace Gallagher, for stepping in during his absence. He noted that he was the only person in the hospital with malaria and mentioned that one of his doctors said it was the first case he had encountered.

After seeing a rheumatologist, Roberts learned through blood tests that his platelets and white blood cells were low, which prompted immediate action to send him to the emergency room. Upon receiving his diagnosis, he remarked, “Of course you have malaria… You never do anything in small measures,” and admitted feeling a bit frightened since malaria can be deadly if untreated.

Understanding Malaria

Malaria is a potentially life-threatening illness that can cause chills, fever, headaches, and other symptoms one to four weeks after infection. Left unchecked, it can lead to severe complications like confusion and difficulty breathing.

Roberts reflected on his illness, saying, “I don’t know how ‘severe’ it was medically, but it felt severe. I have never felt that sick in my life.” He suspects he contracted the disease during a recent trip to Indonesia, although he doesn’t recall being bitten.

Currently, he is recovering in the hospital but still experiences unpredictable fluctuations in body temperature, alternating between shaking and sweating. He anticipates returning to work by September 2.