U.S. public health officials have been directed to cease all collaborations with the World Health Organization (WHO), effective immediately. This sudden directive came as a surprise to experts in the field, leading to concerns about its impact on global health initiatives. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) official, John Nkengasong, communicated the halt through a memo sent to senior leaders at the agency. The memo instructed the CDC staff to "await further guidance" regarding future engagements.
The abrupt decision is expected to affect ongoing efforts in investigating and controlling outbreaks of diseases such as Marburg virus and mpox in Africa. Health officials confirmed the order, though they were not authorized to speak about the memo publicly. Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, a public health expert at the University of Southern California, highlighted the gravity of the situation by stating:
"Stopping communications and meetings with WHO is a big problem." – Dr. Jeffrey Klausner
Dr. Klausner further commented on the unexpected nature of the halt, noting that there was a general expectation of a gradual withdrawal. He expressed concern about the immediacy of the decision, remarking:
"People thought there would be a slow withdrawal. This has really caught everyone with their pants down." – Dr. Jeffrey Klausner
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has yet to respond to inquiries regarding this development. Under current regulations, the U.S. must provide a one-year notice before leaving WHO, requiring Congressional approval and fulfillment of financial commitments for the fiscal year.
Collaborations with WHO are crucial for the U.S., providing insights into new tests and treatments and alerting officials about emerging outbreaks that could threaten Americans both domestically and internationally. Despite an executive order to initiate withdrawal from WHO, this process has not yet taken immediate effect.
In addition to halting collaborations with WHO, U.S. health officials are actively monitoring bird flu outbreaks among livestock within the country. Dr. Klausner emphasized the importance of maintaining dialogue with WHO:
"Talking to WHO is a two-way street," – Dr. Jeffrey Klausner