John Roberts has been diagnosed with malaria.
The Fox News correspondent was hospitalized with the mosquito-borne disease this week, he shared on social media. The broadcast journalist, 68, told People in an interview published Thursday, Aug. 28, that he had suffered from “uncontrollable shivering” live on air and was diagnosed Monday, Aug. 25.
“I had been hurting from the top of my head to the tip of my toes. Literally everywhere. I was also beset with uncontrolled shivering all during my show,” he said. “Initially, I thought it was just muscle cramps and aches. But when I started shivering, I started to lean toward the flu.”
Roberts added that he went to a rheumatologist who, after confirming through blood work that his platelets and white blood cells were both low, immediately told him to go to the emergency room. He was officially diagnosed in the hospital. “I thought, ‘Of course you have malaria … You never do anything in small measures,’” he said. “But I was a little scared. Malaria can be deadly if left unchecked.”
While he was absent, Trace Gallagher filled in for him on Fox News, and Roberts took to social media to give thanks. “Thank you to Trace for jumping into the chair today! I somehow came down with a severe case of Malaria,” he wrote. “I can honestly say that I am the only person in the hospital with Malaria. In fact, one of my doctors said I’m the first case he has ever seen.”
What is malaria? Symptoms, more
Malaria is a serious and sometimes life-threatening disease caused by the bite of an infected female mosquito, causing symptoms like chills, fever, headache, nausea, body aches and diarrhea seven to 30 days after infection. If left untreated, more severe symptoms may appear, including mental confusion, difficulty breathing, convulsions, abnormal bleeding and more, which can lead to death.
Roberts continued: “I don’t know exactly how ‘severe’ it was from a medical classification, but it sure felt severe. I have never felt that sick in my life.”
The Canadian TV anchor said he thinks he contracted the disease during a recent vacation in Indonesia in late July to early August, but he doesn’t remember being bitten.
Roberts is now recovering in the hospital, but added that he still has “wild swings in temperature every hour. I’ll be shivering and shaking like a leaf … the next I’ll be sweating.”
He expects to be discharged soon and return to the air Tuesday, Sept. 2.
Contributing: Adrianna Rodriguez