Fox News’ John Roberts announced Tuesday that he’s currently off the airwaves with what he described as a “severe case of Malaria.”
Roberts revealed on social media that he “somehow came down” with the disease, which can be deadly “if not diagnosed and treated quickly,” per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“I can honestly say that I am the only person in the hospital with Malaria,” the 68-year-old host posted on X, formerly Twitter.
He added, “In fact, one of my doctors said I’m the first case he has ever seen.”
Roberts thanked colleague Trace Gallagher for “jumping into the chair” and sitting in for him alongside Sandra Smith on his weekday afternoon show “America Reports.”
It’s unclear when Roberts will return to work.
The CDC describes malaria as “a serious disease caused by a parasite that infects a certain type of mosquito” and noted that “most people get malaria from the bite of an infective mosquito.”
Around 2,000 cases of the disease are reported in the United States each year, the majority being in people who have traveled abroad, the CDC noted. Severe symptoms can include kidney failure, mental confusion and seizures.