Illinois is joining the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-Ill.) announced, challenging the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the WHO on Jan. 22.
Pritzker Challenges Federal WHO Exit
“By withdrawing from the World Health Organization, Donald Trump has undermined science and weakened our nation’s ability to detect and respond to global health threats,” Pritzker said in an official announcement from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
“I refuse to sit idly by and let that happen.”
Pritzker, one of Trump’s most vocal Democratic critics, wrote on X: “I refuse to sit by as Donald Trump undermines science and weakens our nation’s ability to detect and respond to global health threats.”
This makes Illinois the second U.S. state, following California, another Democrat-led state, to join GOARN in January.
State Gains Independent Access To Global Disease Intelligence
Dr. Sameer Vohra, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, said: “Disease knows no borders, and Illinois is taking decisive steps to strengthen our preparedness. Joining GOARN connects us to global experts, rapid alerts, and real-time intelligence.”
GOARN, which comprises over 300 technical institutions and networks globally, focuses on outbreak identification, confirmation and rapid response mobilization for international public health emergencies.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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