Fauci recovering after hospitalization for West Nile virus

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is recuperating at home after being hospitalized with West Nile virus, according to a spokesperson. Fauci, who gained national prominence as part of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, is expected to make a full recovery.

Each year, around 1,000 Americans are hospitalized with the most severe form of West Nile virus, the most common mosquito-borne disease in the continental U.S. On average, another 1,500 are diagnosed with symptoms, although experts believe as many as 80% of infections go undetected.

“I really felt like I’d been hit by a truck,” Fauci told Stat on Saturday. “I have to tell you, I’ve never been as sick in my life. Ever. By far, this is the worst I’ve ever been with an illness.”

There is no vaccine or specific treatment for West Nile virus. Most cases are mild, presenting flu-like symptoms and a rash, but in about 1 in 150 cases, the virus can invade the brain and nervous system, potentially leading to brain swelling, brain damage, or death. Approximately 100 people in the U.S. die from West Nile infections annually.

The highest virus activity typically occurs in August and September. As of August 20, 216 cases have been reported this year in 33 states, including 142 neuroinvasive cases, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Fauci told Stat that he did not develop the neurological form of the illness. He experienced a temperature of 103°F, "shaking chills," and significant weakness.

“The good news is I’m absolutely going in the right direction,” he said. “The sobering news is that it’s going to take weeks and weeks to get back to normal. That’s the history of West Nile. It just wipes you out so badly.”