‘Fox & Friends’ host Janice Dean ‘taking break’ from network as she battles ‘some health issues’

Janice Dean, a Fox News senior meteorologist and host of “Fox & Friends,” announced Wednesday that she’s going to “take a break” from the network as she deals with health issues that require “rest and time to heal.”

The longtime weather anchor, 55, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2005, said she’ll also be taking a break from social media.

“I wanted to let you all know that I’m taking a break from work (and social media) for a bit,” she wrote on Facebook.

“I’m ok, but I’ve had some health issues that require rest and time to heal. My bosses at Fox have been kind and understanding, and I feel blessed to be able to take a break to be with my family,” she continued.

“The trip to Rome with Sean was a good place to start healing spiritually, and now I have to get back to feeling healthy and strong. I’ve always been up front and honest about my life, and I felt I owed you an explanation of my absence. But, I will be back. Grateful to you all for the kind words.”

Dean did not disclose how long she’ll be away from Fox News or what specific health issues she is currently facing.

She thanked her fans for their “incredible kindness and support” in a follow-up comment on her post.
“You guys made me cry! (A good cry!)” she wrote.

“I promise to get lots of rest and take good care of myself. I appreciate all these beautiful words.”
Dean joined Fox News in 2004, the year before she was diagnosed with MS.

The neurological disease affects the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves — all of which make up one’s central nervous system, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

It damages the myelin sheath, the protective coating around nerve cells, which can slow or even block nerve signals, according to Mount Sinai.

Symptoms vary from person to person but may include loss of balance, muscle spasms, and tingling in the arms and legs, among others.

While there is no cure for MS, medications and therapy can help manage symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.

“Almost 20 years ago I was diagnosed with an illness that has no cure,” Dean told The Post back in 2023.

“It also is a disease that affects people differently, and potentially could someday be debilitating. And despite the challenges I’ve faced over the years, having MS has made me stronger in ways I could never imagine. It’s important for me to share my journey so that I can maybe help someone else. That’s always been the goal, and I’ve met some really great fellow MS’ers that despite the odds against them, rise to the challenge and overcome the fear of this strange, scary disease.”

She was diagnosed after she had been feeling an “overwhelming fatigue, numbness in her thighs, and loss of sensation in the soles of her feet,” according to Brain & Life.

At first, she thought it was due to her demanding and busy work schedule as a journalist, but the symptoms wouldn’t go away, so she went to the doctor, who referred her to a neurologist.

Since her diagnosis, Dean has been an outspoken advocate in the MS community, connecting with others affected by the disease and sharing her personal experience.