Fauci recovering after hospitalization for West Nile virus

Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Katherine Dillinger, CNN

(CNN) — Dr. Anthony Fauci, erstwhile head of nan National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is recovering astatine location aft being hospitalized pinch West Nile virus, a spokesperson said.

Fauci, a longtime nationalist wellness charismatic who became a family sanction arsenic portion of nan White House Coronavirus Task Force, is expected to retrieve fully, nan spokesperson said.

About 1,000 Americans are hospitalized each twelvemonth pinch nan astir terrible shape of West Nile virus, which is dispersed done nan wound of infected mosquitoes. Another 1,500, connected average, are diagnosed aft processing symptoms, though experts estimate that arsenic galore of 80% of infections successful nan US are ne'er identified.

There is nary vaccine aliases circumstantial curen for West Nile. Most cases are mild, causing flu-like symptoms and a rash. In astir 1 successful 150 cases, nan microorganism invades nan encephalon and tense system, which tin lead to encephalon swelling, encephalon harm aliases death. About 100 group dice from West Nile infections successful nan US each year.

The heaviest microorganism activity is usually seen successful August and September. As of August 20, 216 cases person been reported this twelvemonth successful 33 states, pinch 142 neuroinvasive cases, according to preliminary information from nan US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.