Dr. Anthony Fauci, 83, was briefly hospitalized after contracting West Nile virus, according to a spokesperson. Fauci, who served as the chief medical adviser to President Joe Biden and became well-known during the COVID-19 pandemic, left his position as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in 2022.

The West Nile Virus has been detected in 33 states so far.

Fauci has since returned home and is recovering, with an expectation of a full recovery. West Nile virus, commonly spread by infected mosquitoes, has no vaccine or specific treatment. As of August 24, there were 216 reported cases of West Nile virus in 33 states, with 142 being severe, neuroinvasive cases that often require hospitalization.

This summer, health experts noted an unexpected increase in West Nile virus activity, with at least seven states confirming human cases by late June. A record number of mosquitoes carrying the virus were found in and around Las Vegas earlier this year.