Anthony Fauci contracts West Nile virus, 'full recovery' expected

Article content

Dr. Anthony Fauci is recovering at home after he was hospitalized for nearly a week with West Nile virus.

The White House’s former top doctor was in hospital with the virus this month, a spokesperson for the 83-year-old told the Washington Post.

“Tony Fauci has been hospitalized with a case of West Nile virus,” the spokesperson said. “He is now home and is recovering. A full recovery is expected.”

No other details were given, though an insider told the publication that Fauci doesn’t know how he contracted the mosquito-borne illness.

CBS News’ chief medical correspondent, Dr. Jonathan LaPook, posted on X that he had spoken with Fauci, who told him he was hospitalized about two weeks ago and he had developed “fever, chills and severe fatigue.”

LaPook noted: “Evaluation revealed that he had been infected with the West Nile virus, likely from a mosquito bite that he got in his backyard.”

A bite from an infected mosquito can spread the virus to humans and other animals, according to Health Canada. Between 70% and 80% of people infected with West Nile have no symptoms, though adults 50 years and older and those with underlying conditions or weaker immune systems are at greater risk.

First symptoms usually appear within two to 15 days after infection and mild symptoms can include fever, headache, body aches, mild rash and swollen lymph glands.

There is no specific treatment or vaccine for West Nile virus infections in humans and patients are treated for their symptoms.

Fauci revealed in an interview earlier this month that he contracted COVID in July, marking his third bout with the coronavirus despite having been vaccinated and boosted a total of six times.

He was the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for decades until he retired in 2022.

He was in the spotlight in 2020, advising the Trump and Biden administrations and the public during the COVID-19 pandemic, often pushing guidelines on mask-wearing and physical distancing.

He has been under fire in recent months after he admitted in testimony to a Republican committee that he didn’t remember how the six-foot physical distancing rules came to be.

“You know, I don’t recall. It sort of just appeared,” he said, according to committee transcripts when pressed on how the rule came about.

Fauci also preached about the importance of continuing face mask-wearing, particularly those with chronic health issues and older people who venture into closed indoor spaces.

“You should be careful to avoid crowded places where you don’t know the status of other people,” he told MedPage Today.

“And you should get vaccinated and boosted on a regular basis.”

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

Play Video