Fox News anchor John Roberts, 68, was recently hospitalized after being diagnosed with an advanced case of malaria. Roberts noticed the first symptoms on Monday while filming a segment, when he began shivering uncontrollably and experiencing severe body pain “from the top of my head to the tip of my toes.” Blood tests revealed dangerously low platelet and white blood cell counts, prompting additional medical evaluations that ultimately confirmed the malaria diagnosis.
Roberts admitted he “was a little scared” upon learning the news. Malaria, caused by a parasite transmitted through infected mosquito bites, can be life-threatening if not treated promptly, and symptoms often include high fever, chills, and intense body aches.
Although rare in temperate regions, malaria remains widespread in tropical and subtropical areas, affecting roughly 290 million people annually and causing over 400,000 deaths worldwide. Roberts shared on X that his doctor mentioned he was the first case of this severity they had ever seen. The veteran journalist had recently returned from a two-week trip to Indonesia in late July, and about ten days after returning home, he began feeling ill. He is currently receiving IV artesunate, the standard treatment for serious malaria cases, and remains hopeful to return to work within the coming week.
John Roberts has had a long and distinguished journalism career. Born in Toronto, Canada, he began as a local radio and TV reporter before joining major networks, including CBS News as White House Correspondent and CNN, where he co-anchored morning and weekend programs. He joined Fox News in 2011, rising to become one of the network’s most prominent political reporters and serving as Chief White House Correspondent during the Trump administration. Roberts is widely recognized for his direct reporting style and decades of experience covering presidential administrations, elections, and major breaking news events. He is married to fellow broadcaster Kyra Phillips, and the couple has two children.
