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CDC’s work with WHO comes to a halt after Trump orders withdrawal

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America’s federal health agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has been ordered to suspend its work with the World Health Organization (WHO). Experts warn the move could disrupt collaborations on global virus outbreaks, including the recent bird flu.

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In a memo to staff reviewed by the Washington Post, the CDC’s deputy director instructed personnel to await further guidance regarding their interactions with WHO. The memo stated work must cease “through technical working groups, coordinating centers, advisory boards and cooperative agreements,” both in person and virtually.

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Trump signs executive order to withdraw from WHO

Last week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to officially withdraw the United States from WHO. The order cites WHO’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and its failure to avoid political influence as part of the reason for the decision.

Under the terms of the order, the U.S. must notify WHO one year before the withdrawal takes effect. However, the decision is not yet final –– Congress must approve the move, and the U.S. must fulfill any outstanding financial obligations before its departure.

U.S. and WHO’s long-standing partnership

The United States has been a member of WHO since its founding in 1948. The international agency was designed to coordinate responses to global health emergencies and promote universal health coverage for billions of people worldwide. Over the decades, the U.S. has helped fund WHO’s health efforts and initiatives, supporting global public health programs.

Impact on the CDC

The decision to withdraw from WHO would also affect the CDC. Without access to WHO’s global virus data and genetic databases, the CDC could struggle to maintain current vaccines and respond to public health threats.

The CDC and WHO operate 71 health centers across the U.S., where staff work collaboratively on health issues ranging from disease prevention to emergency responses.

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[Lauren Taylor]

AMERICA’S FEDERAL HEALTH AGENCY IS IMMEDIATELY ORDERED TO HALT COMMUNICATION WITH WORLD LEADERS ON PUBLIC HEALTH.

EXPERTS WARN THE TIMING OF THE SUNDAY NIGHT ORDER COULD DISRUPT KEY COLLABORATIONS ON VIRUSES SPREADING GLOBALLY, INCLUDING THE RECENT BIRD FLU OUTBREAK.

THE CDC’S DEPUTY DIRECTOR TOLD STAFF TO WAIT FOR FUTURE GUIDANCE ON INTERACTIONS WITH THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION.

THE WASHINGTON POST REVIEWED THE MEMO, IT STATES WORK MUST CEASE  “through technical working groups, coordinating centers, advisory boards, cooperative agreements.” BOTH IN PERSON AND VIRTUALLY. 

JUST LAST WEEK, PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO WITHDRAW THE U.S. FROM THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. 

THE PRESIDENT CITED THE ORGANIZATION’S MISHANDLING OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND ITS FAILURE TO AVOID POLITICAL INFLUENCE.

UNDER THE TERMS OF THE ORGANIZATION, THE U.S. MUST NOTIFY WHO ONE YEAR IN ADVANCE BEFORE LEAVING.

TRUMP’S DECISION MUST RECEIVE APPROVAL BY CONGRESS, AND THE U.S. HAS TO FULFILL ALL OUTSTANDING FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS.

THE U-S JOINED WHO IN 1948, AN INTERNATIONAL HEALTH AGENCY AIMED AT COORDINATING GLOBAL HEALTH EMERGENCIES AND PROVIDE UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE FOR BILLIONS OF PEOPLE. 

FOR DECADES, THE U.S. HAS HELPED FUND THE W-H-O IN ORDER TO SUPPORT PUBLIC HEALTH EFFORTS AND GLOBAL INITIATIVES.

THE CDC WOULD ALSO FACE IMPACTS, LOSING ACCESS TO GLOBAL VIRUS DATA AND GENETIC DATABASES ESSENTIAL FOR UPDATING VACCINES

BOTH AGENCIES OPERATE 71 CENTERS WITHIN THE U.S., WHERE STAFF COLLABORATE ON A RANGE OF HEALTH CONCERNS.

W-H-O HAS REFERRED ALL COMMENTS TO U.S. OFFICIALS, BUT LAST WEEK, THE ORGANIZATION REFLECTED ON TRUMP’S DECISION, SAYING WITH THE HELP OF THE U.S., COUNTLESS LIVES HAVE BEEN SAVED FROM GLOBAL HEALTH THREATS AND THEY REGRET THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M LAUREN TAYLOR