Illinois Says ‘Yes’ To The World Health Organization

The U.S. withdrew from the World Health Organization in January, citing an alleged mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, states like California and Illinois are taking matters into their own hands and joining the WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, or GOARN. In the Loop sits down with Dr. Sameer Vohra, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health; Ameya Pawar, president and CEO of Michael Reese Health Trust; and Dr. Emily Landon, infectious disease specialist at University of Chicago. We find out more about how joining this network will protect Illinois residents and how this keeps the state informed about potential public health threats. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.