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GermanyAnthony Fauci, the nation’s former top infectious disease expert, is recovering at home after spending time in the hospital after contracting the West Nile virus, a spokesman confirmed Saturday.
Fauci is expected to make a full recovery, said the spokesman, who spoke on condition of anonymity for safety reasons.
West Nile virus is usually spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. While most people don’t develop symptoms, about 1 in 5 people experience fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea or rash, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 1 in 150 people who are infected develop severe illness, which can sometimes be fatal.
Chief Medical Correspondent, CBS News Dr. Jonathan LaPuke wrote in a social media post He spoke with Fauci on Saturday, who said he likely became infected after being bitten by a mosquito in his backyard.
“Dr. Fauci was hospitalized approximately ten days ago with fever, chills, and severe fatigue,” the post on X said. Fauci was in the hospital for a week, the post said.
As the White House’s chief medical adviser, Fauci was the public face of the U.S. government during the coronavirus pandemic, a role that made him both a trusted voice for millions and a target of partisan ire. He left the administration in 2022 but returned to testify before Congress in June as part of a years-long Republican investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic and the U.S. response.
Last summer, Fauci joined Georgetown University as a Distinguished University Professor.
There is currently no vaccine to prevent West Nile virus and no medicine to treat the virus. As of August 20, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 216 cases in 33 states this year. The best way to prevent West Nile virus is to avoid mosquito bites.
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