Fox News’ John Roberts hospitalized with 'severe' malaria after shivering uncontrollably on air

WASHINGTON, DC: Fox News anchor John Roberts, 68, is battling a severe case of malaria and is currently hospitalized after experiencing intense body aches and uncontrollable shivering.

Doctors diagnosed him on August 25, and although his recovery has been uneven, Roberts says he hopes to return to work by next week.

John Roberts recalls feeling unwell during his show

John Roberts opened up about his recent health scare in a statement shared exclusively with People, revealing he was diagnosed with malaria, a parasitic illness transmitted by mosquitoes, on Monday, August 25.

The co-Anchor of 'America Reports' said the symptoms hit hard, “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."

At first, he dismissed it as minor aches and pains. “Initially, I thought it was just muscle cramps and aches. But when I started shivering, I started to lean toward the flu,” he explained.

However, things escalated when his blood work revealed low platelet and white blood cell counts. “I knew it was bad,” Roberts said, recalling how his rheumatologist immediately advised him to go to the ER. After being hospitalized, he finally received the diagnosis. 

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

Although he wasn’t sure how his case would be classified medically, Roberts didn’t downplay the impact. He added, "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."

John Roberts discusses what might have caused his malaria

John Roberts believes he contracted malaria while vacationing in Indonesia, where he spent two weeks before returning home in early August. Although he doesn’t recall being bitten by a mosquito, he began feeling ill roughly 10 days after his return.

Notably, malaria, a mosquito-borne disease typically found in tropical or subtropical regions, can cause symptoms such as fever, headaches, chills, muscle aches, fatigue, and gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. These symptoms often appear within one to four weeks after exposure.

Doctors began treating Roberts with IV artesunate, the primary treatment for severe malaria in the US, which he described as the “big gun” for eliminating parasites. Throughout his recovery, Roberts said he’s been feeling “up and down.” “Yesterday [August 27] was a down day,” he admitted. “I felt horrible all day. I also have wild swings in temperature every hour. I’ll be shivering and shaking like a leaf… the next I’ll be sweating.”

Roberts hopes to be discharged soon and plans to return to work on September 2. When he announced his diagnosis on social media, he thanked Trace Gallagher for stepping in as Sandra Smith’s co-anchor on 'America Reports'. 

“I somehow came down with a severe case of Malaria,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “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…!”