Anthony Fauci hospitalized after contracting West Nile virus

Photo: Jose Luis Magana Associated Press Anthony Fauci, 83, led the National Institute of Infectious Diseases for nearly four decades before retiring in 2022.

Yasmeen Abutaleb – The Washington Post

Published at 7:13 p.m.

• United States

Anthony S. Fauci was hospitalized after contracting West Nile virus this month, according to a spokesperson for the former top U.S. infectious disease official.

The 83-year-old Fauci led the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIAID) for nearly four decades before retiring in 2022. He rose to unprecedented prominence while facing fierce political attacks as the face of the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic under Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

Anthony Fauci was hospitalized for six days before returning home this week.

“Tony Fauci was hospitalized with West Nile virus. He is now home and recovering. A full recovery is expected,” the spokesperson said.

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A person familiar with Anthony Fauci, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the situation, said the former director did not know how he contracted the virus.

West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne illness that can cause fever, body aches, diarrhea and rash, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There is no vaccine or treatment for the virus.

Although he left government nearly two years ago, Fauci has continued to face fierce political attacks from congressional Republicans for his role in combating the coronavirus.

In June, he testified before a House panel investigating the strategy. Republican lawmakers accused him of orchestrating a cover-up of the virus’s origins, which Fauci vigorously rejected as “simply preposterous.” The infectious disease expert said Republicans distorted emails between himself and other scientists discussing the possibility of a lab leak of the coronavirus.

After leaving government, Fauci joined the faculty of Georgetown University, where he is a professor emeritus in the school of medicine. He also holds a position at the university's McCourt School of Public Policy.

This summer, Fauci published a memoir titled On Call(On Call), which trace his long career in public health and medicine, including his leading role in combating the national AIDS epidemic in the 1980s and 1990s, as well as his unlikely rise to fame and political prominence as the coronavirus response chief under President Donald Trump.