Overview
- The Illinois Department of Public Health has officially joined the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, becoming the second state to enroll after California.
- Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Illinois would join WHO and GOARN directly to preserve access to real-time outbreak alerts, expert collaboration, and surge support.
- White House and HHS officials criticized the move, arguing states do not set foreign policy and reiterating the administration’s claims that WHO mishandled the COVID‑19 pandemic.
- Illinois said GOARN participation carries no membership fee but required an application detailing contributions, with officials citing state expertise and the need for timely data given O’Hare’s global traffic.
- Public health experts warn the federal pullout will weaken global response and U.S. scientific efforts, with some predicting more states will pursue similar links to fill federal gaps.