Illinois Partners With Chicago Hospitals to Bolster Infectious Disease Response

CHICAGO – The State of Illinois has teamed up with two Chicago hospitals to serve as treatment centers for “High-Consequence Pathogens.” Under two agreements with the Illinois Department of Public Health, Rush University Medical Center and Lurie Children’s Hospital will upgrade their capacity to treat people suffering from high-consequence pathogens. The term refers to highly infectious diseases that pose a threat to public safety, such as the Ebola virus and pneumonic plague. Under the agreement, Rush will receive $900,000 in state funding and Lurie Children’s will receive $600,000.