Anthony Fauci, the 83-year-old former head of the country’s COVID-19 response, was recently admitted to the hospital after contracting West Nile virus. After a six-day stay, Fauci is now back at home, recovering from the mosquito-borne illness. His spokesperson has assured the public that a full recovery is anticipated.
West Nile virus is primarily transmitted through the bite of an infected Culex pipiens, commonly known as the Northern house mosquito. These mosquitoes become carriers of the virus after biting infected birds, and subsequently transmit the virus to humans and other animals. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), West Nile virus is the most prevalent mosquito-borne disease in the United States.
In the previous year, the virus resulted in approximately 1,800 hospitalizations and was responsible for 182 fatalities in the U.S. The CDC reported 216 confirmed cases of the virus in 2024. While symptoms can include headaches, fever, body aches, and vomiting, an estimated 80% of those infected do not exhibit any symptoms. Currently, there are no known vaccines or treatments for West Nile virus.
Fauci, who retired as the chief of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in 2022, has remained a contentious figure due to his role during the pandemic. Despite retiring, he continues to be a subject of controversy. During his tenure, he was the highest paid federal employee, earning an annual salary of $480,654.
Fauci’s decisions during the pandemic, such as advocating for school closures, have been scrutinized. He later acknowledged that this was a mistake. He also faced criticism for denying that his department within the National Institute of Health funded gain-of-function research at China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology. However, this year, NIH principal deputy director Lawrence Tabak admitted to Congress that U.S. taxpayers did indeed fund such research.
Fauci has also been targeted by animal rights activists for his department’s funding of a lab in Tunisia, which has been accused of torturing and killing dozens of beagle puppies.