Renowned American immunologist, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci and advisor to US presidents was hospitalized due to West Nile virus infection, the media reported on Saturday. Fauci was one of the world's main experts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As explained by the media, 83-year-old Dr. Anthony Fauci – a popularizer of knowledge about infectious diseases – spent several days in the hospital and is currently recovering at home.
Mosquitoes are to blame for spreading the virus
Sources cited by AP indicate that Anthony Fauci is expected to make a full recovery. He himself has reported that he likely became infected by a mosquito bite in his garden.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne illness in USA.
The vast majority of people infected with the virus have mild symptoms or none at all. Up to 20 percent of people with the virus have fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash. Up to one in 150 people with the disease have a severe course, sometimes leading to death.
Main image source: Reuters