U.S. CDC Halts Collaboration with WHO Amid Withdrawal Process

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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has instructed all staff members to cease collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) immediately. This decision, communicated in a memo by CDC official John Nkengasong, impacts all agency personnel involved in various collaborations with WHO, including technical working groups and cooperative agreements.

Experts are expressing concern that this sudden halt will hinder efforts to investigate outbreaks of the Marburg virus and mpox in Africa, as well as pose challenges to monitoring emerging health threats globally. This directive follows an executive order issued by President Trump that initiated the process for the U.S. withdrawal from WHO, although this process requires Congressional approval and one year's notice.

The memo also prohibits CDC staff from visiting WHO offices, leaving many public health officials surprised. Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, a public health expert from the University of Southern California, emphasized that communication with WHO is critical for sharing expertise and knowledge about emerging health issues.

As U.S. health officials grapple with this unexpected development, the World Health Organization has referred further inquiries regarding the withdrawal to U.S. officials.

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