Fox News anchor John Roberts was hospitalized with a severe case of malaria after experiencing visible symptoms during his on-air broadcasts, the 68-year-old journalist revealed this week. Roberts was officially diagnosed with the mosquito-borne illness on Monday, August 25, 2025, following blood work that showed dangerously low platelet and white blood cell counts.
The co-anchor of Fox’s “America Reports” had been suffering from debilitating symptoms that began approximately 10 days after returning from a two-week family vacation to Indonesia in late July and early August. Roberts described experiencing uncontrolled shivering during his live television broadcasts, along with severe body aches affecting him from head to toe.
Roberts initially attributed his symptoms to muscle cramps and aches, but became concerned when the shivering began during his show. The veteran journalist consulted with his rheumatologist, who immediately directed him to seek emergency medical care after reviewing his blood work results.
Upon hospitalization, Roberts received the official malaria diagnosis. Roberts admitted feeling frightened by the diagnosis, noting that “malaria can be deadly if left unchecked.” He emphasized the severity of his condition, stating he had never felt so ill in his entire life.
The Canadian-born journalist posted about his diagnosis on the social media platform X on Tuesday, August 26, expressing gratitude to colleague Trace Gallagher for filling in as Sandra Smith’s co-anchor. Roberts noted that he was the only patient with malaria in his hospital, with one doctor indicating it was the first case they had ever encountered.
Roberts is currently receiving treatment with IV artesunate, the first-line treatment for severe malaria in the United States. He described the medication as a powerful weapon against the parasites. Despite treatment, he continues to experience significant temperature fluctuations, alternating between violent shivering episodes and profuse sweating on an hourly basis.
Malaria is a serious and potentially life-threatening disease caused by parasites transmitted through bites from infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. The illness typically produces symptoms including fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, usually appearing within seven to 30 days after exposure.
While Roberts does not recall being bitten by mosquitoes during his Indonesian vacation, he believes this trip was the source of his infection. The timing of his symptom onset aligns with the typical incubation period for malaria following exposure in tropical regions.
The Centers for Disease Control reports approximately 2,000 cases of malaria diagnosed annually in the United States, with the vast majority being travel-related infections brought back from endemic regions. Most cases diagnosed domestically involve patients who contracted the disease abroad and returned to the country while infected.
Roberts described his recovery as inconsistent, with alternating good and bad days. He reported feeling particularly unwell on August 27, experiencing persistent symptoms throughout the day. The anchor expressed hope for hospital discharge and anticipated returning to work on Tuesday, September 2, though his recovery timeline remains dependent on his response to treatment.
The news anchor received medical care at Inova Health, a Virginia-based healthcare provider, and publicly thanked the medical staff for their expertise and compassionate care. Roberts joined Fox News in 2011 after previous roles at CNN, CBS News, and various local television and radio stations.
Malaria remains a significant global health threat, with nearly 290 million infections and more than 400,000 deaths occurring worldwide each year, primarily in tropical and subtropical countries. While the disease was eliminated from the United States in 1951, imported cases continue to occur among travelers returning from endemic regions.
The illness can progress rapidly without proper treatment, with delays in diagnosis and treatment significantly increasing mortality risk. Early intervention with appropriate antimalarial medications is crucial for successful recovery, though mortality rates remain concerning even with medical intervention.
