First look: New York joins WHO network after Trump pulls U.S. from UN agency
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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul during a briefing in Brentwood, New York, last year. Photo: James Carbone/Newsday RM via Getty Images
New York has joined the World Health Organization's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network following President Trump's decision to withdraw the U.S. from the UN's global health agency, per a Tuesday announcement from Gov. Kathy Hochul (D).
Why it matters: New York is the third state to join the global health organization's network dedicated to monitoring and responding to disease outbreaks, following Illinois and California.
- The trio is also among 14 Democratic-led states and Guam that launched a public health alliance in October to push back against Trump administration policies.
Driving the news: Hochul's office in a statement first shared with Axios said that the state was joining the WHO network to strengthen its role in global public health preparedness and response.
- It accused the Trump administration of "compromising the country's global health safety and preparedness to respond to future pandemics" by pulling the U.S. from the United Nations agency.
What they're saying: "New York has always led in public health and safety and now we're doing our part to protect lives while the federal government puts Americans' health at risk," Hochul said in a statement.
- "By joining GOARN, we're sharing our expertise, laboratories and highly skilled workforce to detect and respond to outbreaks worldwide while helping prevent global health threats from reaching New York State and the United States. Protecting New Yorkers means protecting communities everywhere."
Of note: The New York City Health Department announced last week that it had joined the WHO network.
How it works: The network that's also known as GOARN is a "global technical partnership and a key mechanism to engage the resources of technical agencies beyond the United Nations for rapid identification, confirmation of and response to public health emergencies of international importance," per a post by WHO, which coordinates it.
- GOARN includes more than 300 technical institutions worldwide.
- Partnering with WHO will enable the New York State Health Department to provide technical assistance, support capacity-building initiatives, strengthen risk communication efforts, and coordinate with international public health partners, per the statement.
- "This partnership would also provide New York State with earlier access to global outbreak intelligence, enhance workforce expertise through real-world response experience, strengthen laboratory and surveillance capabilities, and improve preparedness for emerging and re-emerging public health threats, further protecting the health of New Yorkers," it added.
What we're watching: Representatives for the remaining states in the Governors Public Health Alliance didn't immediately respond to Axios about whether they'll also join the WHO network.
- However, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson (D) said in a statement at the time of the alliance's launch, "We can no longer rely on the information coming out of Washington, D.C., but our states are coming together to unequivocally state that science still matters."
- Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey added: "While Donald Trump and RFK Jr. turn their backs on public health, Governors are stepping up to make sure our residents have the health care they need and deserve."
Go deeper: U.S. exit from the WHO may hamstring global health
