Lake County health officials respond after TB case at Waukegan High; board warns of federal public-health grant cuts
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Summary
The county health department notified Waukegan Public Schools about an active tuberculosis case at Waukegan High School and set testing for exposed contacts; board members also warned that recent federal reductions to public‑health grants could force difficult service decisions if not resolved.
Lake County health officials and board members addressed an active tuberculosis (TB) case tied to Waukegan High School during the April 8 County Board meeting and warned about recent federal grant reductions that could affect local public‑health services.
Member Maya Parks, chair of the Health & Community Services Committee, said the health department notified the school district, confirmed the individual is isolated and is contacting people who may have been exposed while contagious. “To prevent the spread of TB, the health department is working with the school to notify those who may have been exposed to the individual while they were contagious and setting up a time for them to be tested,” Parks said. The department hosted a town hall April 1 with Waukegan Public Schools; Parks provided the TB clinic phone line in the meeting: (847) 377‑8700.
Board members stressed that the case falls within the county’s ongoing TB caseload. Member Maine said the county typically sees “between 18 and 22 active TB cases every year,” adding the Waukegan case is within that range. The board encouraged residents who receive outreach from the health department to respond and seek testing as recommended.
Separately, Chair Sandy Hart and other members updated the board about possible federal funding losses affecting public health. Hart told the board that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has “informed the Illinois Department of Public Health that it is slashing millions in public health grants that were already awarded and blocking future funding for infectious disease control” and that the State of Illinois has joined other states in litigation seeking to protect the funds. County officials said a temporary restraining order is in place and that they expect an update on the litigation later in the month. Members said cuts could jeopardize services offered by the Lake County Health Department, including crisis response, early psychosis treatment, substance‑use prevention, recovery housing and infectious‑disease programs.
Why it matters: TB is treatable but contagious in active form; timely contact tracing and testing reduce spread. Separately, abrupt reductions to federal public‑health grants would affect programs that serve vulnerable populations and require county leaders and partners to evaluate budget responses if funds are not restored.
Board and staff actions: The health department is notifying exposed individuals, arranging testing through the TB clinic and providing public information via a recent town hall and ongoing communications. Board members said they are monitoring the federal litigation and coordinating with state officials; they noted possible contingencies if funding is lost, including budget tradeoffs and service prioritization.
