Fox News’ John Roberts Hospitalized with ‘Severe’ Malaria After ‘Uncontrolled Shivering’ On-Air

Fox News anchor John Roberts is recovering after being diagnosed with a serious case of malaria.

The 68-year-old journalist revealed the health scare to PEOPLE on Monday, Aug. 25, explaining that the mosquito-borne illness left him in severe pain.

“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,” Roberts said. “At first, I thought it was just muscle cramps and aches. But when I started shivering, I leaned toward the flu.”

He grew more concerned when his bloodwork revealed both low platelets and white blood cells. “My rheumatologist told me to go to the ER,” Roberts recalled.

Once admitted to the hospital, doctors confirmed it was malaria. “I thought, ‘Of course you have malaria… You never do anything in small measures.’ But I was a little scared,” he admitted. “Malaria can be deadly if left unchecked.”

Although unsure how doctors would classify the severity, Roberts said, “It sure felt severe. I have never felt that sick in my life.”

Roberts believes he contracted the disease during a recent two-week vacation in Indonesia. He began to feel symptoms about 10 days after returning home, though he doesn’t remember being bitten by a mosquito.

Malaria, transmitted by mosquito bites, is most common in tropical and subtropical regions. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, chills, fatigue, and muscle aches, with some cases also causing nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Symptoms usually appear within one week to one month after exposure.

In the United States, nearly all cases of malaria are contracted abroad and later diagnosed stateside. Around 2,000 cases are reported annually.

While hospitalized, Roberts was treated with IV artesunate, the first-line therapy for severe malaria in the U.S. He called it a “big gun” medication for clearing out parasites.

Even with treatment, recovery has been unpredictable. “Yesterday [Aug. 27] was a down day,” Roberts said. “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 is aiming to return to work on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

When he first shared his diagnosis on social media, Roberts thanked Trace Gallagher for filling in alongside Sandra Smith 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…!”