Janice Dean has revealed that she is facing another major health challenge, just months after worsening multiple sclerosis symptoms forced her to step away from Fox & Friends after more than two decades.
The former Fox News meteorologist, 56, shared that she has been diagnosed with viral meningitis following weeks of health problems and repeated hospital visits.
Dean said she has “never been this sick before” and warned that her recovery could take months.
The update comes only months after she left her longtime television role because the demands of early mornings, long hours on her feet and live broadcasting had become increasingly difficult to manage alongside her MS.
Dean reveals viral meningitis diagnosis
Dean explained in a social media post that she had taken a break from posting because of the illness.
“I’ve been taking a bit of a break from social media because I was diagnosed with viral meningitis,” she wrote.
“I’ve never been this sick before and it could take months to recover.”
She also thanked the people who have supported her during the ordeal, including doctors, nurses, teachers at her children’s school, neighbors, friends and family members.
“All of you who prayed for me, it’s helping,” Dean added. “Love to you all.”
According to the CDC information cited in the material provided, viral meningitis involves inflammation of the protective lining surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
Dean’s diagnosis followed several difficult weeks in which she had already disclosed that she was struggling physically.
In an October Substack post, she said the illness began with painful legs and feet, extreme exhaustion and an overall feeling of being unwell.
“It started with achy painful legs and feet, exhaustion and an overall feeling of being unwell,” she wrote.
Her children had recently experienced mild colds, and Dean said she wondered whether she had caught the same illness.
However, she explained that living with an autoimmune disease means even a minor infection can become much more difficult to manage.
“My kids had little colds that they quickly got over, and perhaps I caught what they had, but as someone who lives with an auto-immune disease, a little bug can turn into a monster,” Dean said.
Months after MS forced her away from television
Dean was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2005 and continued working for years while managing the condition.
That changed earlier this year.
She announced in June that she would leave her role on Fox & Friends, with her final departure coming in July after more than 20 years at the network.
Dean said the demanding schedule had become too difficult as her symptoms progressed.
“For a long time, I was able to handle the early mornings, the many hours on my feet and the stress of broadcasting live,” she said at the time.
“Ultimately, my symptoms progressed to the point that I can no longer continue working in my role, and my doctors agreed that stepping away was necessary for my health.”
Dean also said she had increasingly felt the effects of her physical limitations.
Waking at approximately 2:30 a.m. for work had become particularly difficult as her condition worsened.
Her decision to leave Fox News was therefore made specifically for her health, making the new meningitis diagnosis another difficult development only months later.
Dean has also spoken openly about the anxiety that comes with becoming sick while already living with MS.
“Every time I get sick I always worry that my MS will get worse,” she wrote in October.
Former Fox colleagues send their support
Dean’s latest update prompted messages of support from former colleagues and viewers.
Fox News correspondent Mike Emanuel wished her a “full and speedy recovery,” adding, “Take care and God Bless.”
Martha MacCallum also responded with a simple message of encouragement: “Get well soon Janice!”
Dean has spent much of the past two decades speaking publicly about her experience with MS, and her latest health update comes after she recently defended actress Christina Applegate amid discussion surrounding Applegate’s own health diagnosis.
Dean had revealed at the time that she herself had been “in and out of the hospital” for several weeks but said she would speak more about the issue when she was well enough.
Her latest announcement now provides more clarity about the illness she has been facing.
After already making the difficult decision to leave a career she loved because of her MS, Dean is now focused on recovering from viral meningitis — a process she says could take months.
For now, she has expressed gratitude for the medical professionals, friends, neighbors and family members helping her through the illness, as well as the prayers and messages she continues to receive from supporters.
