Anthony Fauci, the 83-year-old former leader of the U.S. COVID-19 response, was recently hospitalized after contracting the West Nile virus. After spending six days in the hospital, Fauci is now recuperating at home. His spokesperson has reassured the public that a full recovery is expected.
West Nile virus is primarily spread through the bite of an infected Culex pipiens, also known as the Northern house mosquito. These mosquitoes become carriers of the virus after biting infected birds and can then transmit the virus to humans and other animals. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that West Nile virus is the most common mosquito-borne disease in the United States.
In the past year, the virus led to approximately 1,800 hospitalizations and was responsible for 182 deaths in the U.S. The CDC confirmed 216 cases of the virus in 2024. Symptoms can include headaches, fever, body aches, and vomiting, but an estimated 80% of those infected do not show any symptoms. At present, there are no known vaccines or treatments for West Nile virus.
Fauci, who retired as the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in 2022, has remained a controversial figure due to his role during the pandemic. Despite retiring, he continues to be a subject of debate. 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 admitted 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.