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(NEW YORK) — Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was hospitalized with West Nile virus and is recovering at home, a spokesman said.
Fauci is expected to make a full recovery, the spokesman said in a statement to ABC News.
According to the CDC, West Nile virus is the most common cause of mosquito-borne disease in the Americas.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mosquitoes typically contract the virus after feeding on infected birds and then spread it to humans and other animals. The number of cases typically increases starting in July and is highest in August and September, CDC data shows.
Several health authorities in the United States say they have detected the West Nile virus in mosquito samples this year. At least 216 cases of the West Nile virus have been detected in 33 states, the CDC reports in its latest figures.
The majority of infected people show no symptoms, but about one in five suffer from fever, headache, body aches, joint pain, diarrhea, vomiting or rash. Most symptoms disappear, but weakness and fatigue can persist for weeks or months.
This is a developing story. Check back later for updates.
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