US Withdrawal From WHO Could Affect Hantavirus Response

Health officials said the US withdrawal from the World Health Organization could hinder the country's response to a possible hantavirus outbreak. NBC News reported that without membership, the US might not have immediate access to surveillance data on the virus or contact tracing information for cases linked to a cruise ship that carried the first reported infections.

This type of tracking could help prevent further spread. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention experts are no longer part of the teams sequencing the virus, which means the US might learn about results secondhand. The US formally left the WHO in January after 78 years as a member.

The US transitioned from being one of the organization's top donors to terminating all funding, pulling staff from its offices, and ending participation in its committees and working groups. Officials said the State Department has been in direct contact with passengers on the cruise ship.

The government is working with international partners to provide technical assistance and guidance to mitigate risk.

Trump told reporters on Thursday he had been briefed on the hantavirus and expressed hope that it was under control. "It's very much, we hope, under control," Trump said. " He added that a report on the virus was expected on Friday. The organization has stated that the risk to the American public remains extremely low.

WHO officials are exchanging information with the US under international health regulations that require countries to report public health threats of international concern. One WHO official described the interaction with the US as positive and occurring almost every single day.

A coordinator for global health security during the Biden administration said the US often received advance updates on disease outbreaks before they became public. Responses to global threats are more effective when the US government is involved, the same official added.

Health experts also expressed concern that the WHO cannot draw on the CDC's resources and expertise for the outbreak response. Evacuations from the ship carrying passengers infected with the virus could begin as early as Monday. About 150 passengers remain on board.