A spokesperson confirmed that former coronavirus czar Anthony Fauci spent six days in hospital after contracting West Nile virus.
CNN reported on Saturday that Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), is recovering from his hospital stay at home and should be fine.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that while 80 percent of people infected by West Nile virus don’t show any symptoms, approximately 20 percent do. These symptoms include fever, body and headaches, nausea, diarrhea, and rashes.
One in 150 people who have the virus will develop severe symptoms that affect the central nervous system and may experience diseases like encephalitis, meningitis, or encephalitis.
According to the CDC, about 10 percent of those who suffer from these severe illnesses will die.
Fauci’s age puts him at greater risk of developing worse symptoms.
The health agency stated that there is no specific treatment to treat West Nile, but recommended rest, fluids, and pain medication as ways to alleviate symptoms.
It is unclear how Fauci acquired the virus, but it is spread most commonly by mosquito bites.
The Department of Health and Human Services reports that over 2,200 cases occur in the United States each year.
