Fox News’ John Roberts Shares Update on His Illness After Being Hospitalized With Malaria

Fox News anchor John Roberts is on the road to recovery after being diagnosed with malaria.

“I had been hurting from the top of my head to the tip of my toes. Literally everywhere,” Roberts, 68, recalled to People in an interview published Thursday, August 28. “I was also beset with uncontrolled shivering all during my show. Initially, I thought it was just muscle cramps and aches. But when I started shivering, I started to lean toward the flu. My rheumatologist told me to go to the ER.”

Once he was hospitalized and his blood work showed that his platelets and white blood cells were both low, Roberts was diagnosed with the parasitic, mosquito-borne illness.

“I thought, ‘Of course you have malaria. … You never do anything in small measures,’” Roberts joked. “But I was a little scared. Malaria can be deadly if left unchecked. 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.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, malaria is a disease caused by a parasite. Signs and symptoms typically begin within a few weeks after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Some patients experience cycles of malaria “attacks.” An attack usually starts with shivering and chills, followed by a high fever, then sweating and a return to normal temperature.

The America Reports coanchor suspects he contracted the disease while on a July vacation in Indonesia. According to Roberts, he started feeling sick about 10 days after returning home.

He is currently being treated with IV artesunate but continues to experience symptoms.

“Yesterday was a down day. I felt horrible all day,” he said. “I also have wild swings in temperature every hour. I’ll be shivering and shaking like a leaf … the next I’ll be sweating.”

While Roberts hopes he can be back to reporting the news after Labor Day on Tuesday, September 2, the priority remains getting well.

Along the way, he’s expressing gratitude for the health care professionals and coworkers like Trace Gallagher who are stepping up to coanchor America Reports with Sandra Smith in his absence.

“Thank you to Trace for jumping into the chair today! I somehow came down with a severe case of Malaria,” he wrote via X on Tuesday, August 26. “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. Thanks to the folks at @InovaHealth  for their expertise and compassion…!”