Fox News anchor John Roberts announced Tuesday he is hospitalized with a severe case of malaria, forcing him to step away from his weekday afternoon program for the foreseeable future. The 68-year-old journalist revealed his diagnosis on social media platform X on August 26, explaining his absence from “America Reports,” which airs at 1 p.m. Eastern time.
Roberts indicated that he somehow contracted the mosquito-transmitted disease, making him a rare case at his medical facility. Roberts stated, “I can honestly say that I am the only person in the hospital with Malaria.” He added that one of his doctors told him this was the first case the physician had ever encountered.
The anchor expressed gratitude to fellow Fox News host Trace Gallagher for filling in as co-anchor alongside Sandra Smith during his absence. Gallagher, who typically hosts “Fox News @ Night” at 11 p.m. Eastern, stepped into Roberts’ role on the afternoon program.
Roberts also thanked his medical team at Inova Health, a Virginia-based healthcare provider, for their expertise and compassion in treating his condition. The anchor did not specify how he contracted the illness or provide a timeline for his return to broadcasting.
Social media posts indicate Roberts was recently in Indonesia with his family, visiting Sumba Island approximately two weeks before his diagnosis. According to medical research published in PLOS Global Public Health in 2022, Sumba Island has high malaria rates within Indonesia.
Malaria is caused by a parasite transmitted through bites from Anopheles mosquitoes and is endemic to tropical and subtropical regions including parts of Africa, South Asia, and South America. The disease was eliminated from the United States in 1951, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Despite its elimination from the U.S., the country still reports approximately 2,000 malaria cases annually, with nearly seven deaths per year on average between 2007 and 2022. Most cases occur in individuals who have traveled to or from countries where the disease remains widespread, with patients commonly reporting recent returns from Africa.
The CDC describes malaria as a serious disease that requires immediate medical attention. Symptoms typically appear seven to 30 days after exposure and include flu-like manifestations such as high fever, shaking chills, and fatigue. Without prompt diagnosis and treatment with antimalarial drugs, the disease can rapidly become fatal.
Severe malaria can cause life-threatening complications including kidney failure, mental confusion, seizures, and severe anemia. The disease destroys red blood cells, which can quickly deplete their numbers and prevent the body’s organs from receiving adequate oxygen. A 24-hour delay in treatment can increase the risk of death by one to five times, with mortality rates remaining high at 15 to 20 percent even with treatment.
High-risk individuals include young children, pregnant women, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems or no spleen. Globally, nearly 290 million people are infected with malaria each year, and more than 400,000 die from the disease annually.
The CDC recommends that travelers visiting certain regions in Indonesia obtain prescription malaria prevention medication before their trip. Rising temperatures across the United States are creating more suitable environments for mosquitoes to thrive, potentially increasing the risk of disease transmission.
Earlier in August, New Jersey health officials reported what could be the first locally acquired malaria case in the state in 34 years. A Morris County resident who had not traveled internationally was diagnosed with the disease, raising concerns about local transmission. Acting New Jersey Health Commissioner Jeff Brown emphasized the importance of preventing mosquito bites and ensuring early diagnosis and treatment for returning travelers.
Roberts’ announcement generated widespread support from colleagues and viewers on social media. Former Superman actor Dean Cain, North Carolina Representative Mark Harris, and Fox News Chief Washington Correspondent Mike Emanuel were among those wishing him a swift recovery.
Roberts joined Fox News in 2011 after previously working at CBS News and CNN. He has been a fixture on the network’s afternoon programming, co-anchoring “America Reports” with Smith on weekdays. The show covers breaking news and analysis during the 1 p.m. Eastern time slot.
