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🇮🇱 Israel /Health & Science

US WHO Withdrawal Could Hinder Hantavirus Outbreak Response

From Jerusalem Post · (5m ago) English Critical tone

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The US withdrawal from the World Health Organization could impede its response to a potential hantavirus outbreak.
  • Experts warn the US may lack immediate access to crucial surveillance and contact tracing data without WHO membership.
  • Despite concerns, President Trump expressed hope the situation is under control, with a report expected soon.

The United States' decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization, a move driven by criticisms of the WHO's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, now presents a potential vulnerability in the face of emerging health threats like hantavirus. NBC News reports that health officials are concerned that the US, no longer a member, may not receive timely access to vital international data on the virus, including surveillance and contact tracing information. This could significantly hamper the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's ability to track and contain the spread of deadly diseases.

The US’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) could hinder the country’s response to a possible hantavirus outbreak

— NBC NewsReporting on the potential impact of the US withdrawal from the WHO on disease outbreak response.

Professor Amir Albert Roess of George Mason University highlighted the risk of the US receiving information secondhand, a stark contrast to the days when CDC experts were directly involved in virus sequencing. While the State Department has stated it is working closely with international partners, the loss of immediate access to WHO's global network is a significant concern. The WHO itself, through officials like Anaïs Legand, has indicated ongoing communication, but former Biden administration official Stephanie Psaki pointed out that such information often comes after WHO and CDC experts have already possessed it for days or weeks.

With Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) experts no longer part of the teams sequencing the virus, the US might have to learn about results secondhand

— Amir Albert RoessProfessor of Global Health and Epidemiology at George Mason University, warning about the consequences of US withdrawal from WHO.

The withdrawal, which formally took effect in January after 78 years of membership, signifies a dramatic shift in the US's global health engagement. The Trump administration's move to terminate funding and sever participation in WHO committees raises questions about the nation's preparedness for future global health crises. While President Trump has expressed optimism that the hantavirus situation is under control, the underlying concern remains: has the US isolated itself from crucial international cooperation at a time when global health security is paramount?

working closely with our international partners to provide technical assistance and guidance to mitigate risk.

— CDCDescribing the US government's efforts to manage the hantavirus risk.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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