Illinois joining WHO Global Outbreak Alert Response Network, as US pulls out of organization

CHICAGO (WLS) -- When it comes to public health, Gov. JB Pritzker is again not following the lead of the Trump administration. It's a move some local doctors support.

Sitting on the border of Little Village and North Lawndale, St. Anthony Hospital treats patients who originate from several different countries. Being on top of emerging worldwide illnesses is essential for the hospital's medical director for infection control, Dr. Alfredo Mena Lora. An Ebola-type virus, called Marburg, is the latest alert.

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"We get that alert, that information, the status updates, but also how to screen patients who are either presenting to our emergency rooms or patients that may be presenting to the airport," Mena Lora said.

Doctors and the Illinois Department of Public Health say getting the information quickly concerning a global health threat is an advantage to being a member of the World Health Organization.

"That ability for us to have a really good sort of offensive strategy so that we're not playing defense once it comes into our shores, and the ability to share those, that technical expertise on the ground has helped countries be able to prevent those illnesses," IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said.

Vohra says to continue an offensive strategy is why Pritzker announced Illinois is joining the World Health Organization's Global Outbreak Alert Response Network, known as GOARN. The move follows President Donald Trump's decision to pull the United States out of WHO.

"We want to be in a place to prevent illness, of course in our Illinois borders, but in ways that we can help across the country," Vohra said.

Right now, California is the only other state joining WHO's global network. Dr. Mena Lora hopes other states will follow.

"Well, as an infectious disease doctor, we have to use all of the tools that we can to keep the community safe and to keep our patients safe," Mena Lora said.

IDPH's Dr. Vohra says there is no financial obligation for Illinois to join WHO's network.

He says Illinois will contribute by sharing its medical expertise.