Key Takeaways:

• The CDC has ordered all staff to stop work with the WHO immediately.
• This abrupt decision, linked to an executive order from the Trump administration, raises fears about delayed responses to health emergencies.
• Experts highlight that ceasing communications with WHO could hinder crucial public health knowledge sharing.

In a surprising move, U.S. public health officials have been directed to cease all collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), effective immediately. A memo dispatched by John Nkengasong, a senior official at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has mandated that all agency staff working with the WHO must halt their efforts and await further instructions. This swift cessation of cooperation has alarmed experts, who caution that it may negatively impact ongoing investigations into outbreaks of serious diseases, including the Marburg virus and mpox, particularly in Africa. The situation is further compounded by global health authorities monitoring alarming bird flu outbreaks among U.S. livestock. The memo, which has been viewed by the Associated Press, outlines that the stop-work directive applies to “all CDC staff engaging with WHO through technical working groups, coordinating centers, advisory boards, cooperative agreements or other means, whether in person or virtual.” Furthermore, it strictly forbids CDC personnel from visiting WHO offices.

This sudden shift comes on the heels of an executive order issued by former President Donald Trump, aimed at initiating the process for America to withdraw from the WHO, although such a withdrawal would necessitate congressional approval and compliance with financial obligations for the current fiscal year. Importantly, a full withdrawal requires a notice period of one year. In a related development, Trump's administration has instructed federal health agencies to limit public communications until at least the month's end.

Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, a public health expert from the University of Southern California who works closely with WHO, expressed deep concern over the implications of halting communications and collaborations, saying, “Stopping communications and meetings with WHO is a big problem.” He noted that many were expecting a more gradual withdrawal process and were caught off guard by this abrupt order. “Talking to WHO is a two-way street,” Klausner emphasized, highlighting the importance of shared expertise in combatting emerging health threats that can safeguard American citizens both domestically and abroad.

The CDC maintains an ongoing partnership with WHO involving nearly 30 personnel and substantial financial contributions through cooperative agreements. This collaboration has permitted the U.S. to leverage cutting-edge health research and responses to infectious diseases. The recent directive not only halts this critical collaboration but adds another layer of complexity to global health efforts, especially as the Trump administration recently put a freeze on funding for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a program credited with saving millions of lives globally.

Health officials have voiced grave concerns that the disruption in financial support from PEPFAR, combined with the drain on vital WHO communications, could lead to significant setbacks in the fight against HIV/AIDS. As the international community grapples with these sudden changes, questions surrounding the effectiveness of the global health infrastructure persist.

A spokesperson for WHO has referred queries regarding the withdrawal back to U.S. officials, while the Department of Health and Human Services has yet to issue a statement addressing these changes. For more detailed information, refer to the original articles from LA Times, The Guardian, AP News, Time, and HuffPost.