Imagine sitting at your desk, live on air, only to be hit by uncontrollable shivering and illness that lands you in the hospital. That’s exactly what happened to Fox News correspondent John Roberts, who recently revealed his shocking diagnosis of malaria!

The broadcast journalist, now 68, took to social media to share his harrowing experience after being hospitalized with the mosquito-borne disease this week. In an interview with People, published on August 28, Roberts recounted the moment he realized something was horribly wrong. “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,” he explained. What he initially thought were mere muscle cramps soon escalated to something he feared was the flu.

Roberts sought help from a rheumatologist, who conducted blood tests that revealed critically low levels of platelets and white blood cells. “He told me to go to the emergency room immediately,” Roberts recalled, and it was there that he received the official diagnosis. “I thought, 'Of course you have malaria … You never do anything in small measures.' But I was a little scared. Malaria can be deadly if left unchecked,” he admitted. Talk about a dramatic turn of events!

While he was recuperating, fellow anchor Trace Gallagher stepped in to fill Roberts' seat at Fox News, and Roberts expressed his gratitude on social media: “Thank you to Trace for jumping into the chair today! I somehow came down with a severe case of Malaria. 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.” Talk about being unique!

What is malaria, you ask? Malaria is a serious disease transmitted by the bite of infected female mosquitoes, leading to symptoms such as chills, fever, headaches, and nausea that can appear seven to 30 days post-infection. If left untreated, it can escalate into severe complications, including mental confusion and respiratory issues, which can ultimately be fatal.

Roberts continued to share his experience, saying, “I don't know exactly how 'severe' it was from a medical classification, but it sure felt severe. I have never felt that sick in my life.” The disease reportedly struck him during a recent vacation to Indonesia, though he can’t recall being bitten by a mosquito during his travels.

Currently, he is under recovery in the hospital but mentioned experiencing dramatic fluctuations in body temperature. “I’ll be shivering and shaking like a leaf… the next I’ll be sweating,” he described. Yet, there’s hope on the horizon; he anticipates being discharged soon and is eager to return to the air on September 2.

This alarming incident raises awareness about malaria, a disease that many might not think about in this day and age. Let’s hope John Roberts continues to recover and reminds us all of the importance of mosquito protection!