John Roberts’ Battle with Severe Malaria: A Wife’s Quick Action Saves the Day

Fox News anchor John Roberts, a familiar face on America Reports, faced a harrowing health crisis when he was rushed to the hospital after experiencing “uncontrollable shaking” during a live broadcast. The 68-year-old veteran journalist was diagnosed with a severe case of malaria on August 25, 2025, a revelation that stunned both him and his viewers. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Roberts described the overwhelming pain that gripped him “from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.” In that critical moment, it was his wife’s quick thinking and decisive action that proved to be a lifeline, ensuring he received the urgent care he needed.

The ordeal began subtly, with Roberts initially mistaking his symptoms for muscle cramps or possibly the flu. “I had been hurting everywhere,” he told PEOPLE. “Literally everywhere.” But as the uncontrolled shivering took hold during his show, it became clear something was seriously wrong. Blood work revealed alarmingly low platelet and white blood cell counts, prompting his rheumatologist to urge him to head to the emergency room. “I knew it was bad,” Roberts recalled. His wife, Kyra Phillips, a fellow journalist, recognized the gravity of the situation and ensured he was swiftly taken to the hospital, a decision that likely prevented a more dire outcome.

At the hospital, doctors confirmed the diagnosis: severe malaria, a mosquito-borne parasitic disease typically contracted in tropical or subtropical regions. Roberts believes he contracted it during a recent vacation in Indonesia, where he spent two weeks before returning home in early August. Though he doesn’t recall being bitten, symptoms emerged about ten days after his return, aligning with malaria’s typical incubation period of one week to one month. The disease, which affects approximately 2,000 people annually in the U.S.—mostly travelers returning from endemic areas—brings debilitating symptoms like fever, chills, muscle aches, and fatigue. For Roberts, the experience was unlike anything he’d endured. “I have never felt that sick in my life,” he admitted.

Malaria can be deadly if untreated, and Roberts’ case was severe enough to cause alarm. “I thought, ‘Of course you have malaria… You never do anything in small measures,’” he said with a wry sense of humor. He was immediately started on IV artesunate, the standard treatment for severe malaria in the U.S., which he described as a “big gun” for eliminating the parasites. His recovery has been a rollercoaster, with “up and down” days marked by wild temperature swings—shivering one moment, sweating the next. “Yesterday was a down day,” he shared on August 27. “I felt horrible all day.”

Throughout this ordeal, Roberts credits his wife’s swift action for getting him to the hospital in time. Her decisiveness, combined with the expertise and compassion of the medical team at InovaHealth, has given him hope for a full recovery. He aims to return to America Reports on September 2, resuming his role alongside co-anchor Sandra Smith, with Trace Gallagher having filled in during his absence.

Roberts’ experience underscores the unpredictable nature of malaria, a disease rare in the U.S. but a significant risk for travelers. His openness about the scare, shared via social media and his interview with PEOPLE, highlights his resilience and gratitude. “I’m the only person in the hospital with malaria,” he noted on X, thanking his doctors for their care. As he navigates recovery, Roberts’ story is a reminder of the importance of quick action and the power of loved ones in a crisis.