WHO pushes back as US signals exit, says "Decision Endangers Global Health"

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reacted with regret and concern to the United States’ notification of withdrawal from the global health body, warning that the move undermines not only America’s own safety but the security of the wider world.

In a statement issued on Monday, January 26, WHO recalled that the United States is a founding member of the organization and has played a pivotal role in many of its most important successes. From the eradication of smallpox to sustained progress against polio, HIV, Ebola, influenza, tuberculosis, malaria and other major public health threats, US support has long been central to WHO’s work.

Against this history, WHO said the decision to withdraw represents a serious loss, and that the withdrawal notification by the US raises legal and procedural questions that will be reviewed by the WHO Executive Board at its meeting starting on 2 February, and later by the World Health Assembly at its annual session in May 2026.

WHO also rejected claims from the US government that it has insulted the country, compromised its independence, or operated under the influence of nations hostile to American interests. The global health organization described such accusations as unfounded, stressing that it has always engaged with the United States in good faith and with full respect for its sovereignty, as it does with all 194 Member States.

It could be recalled that a key reason cited by Washington for its withdrawal publicized on January 23, 2026, was WHO’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including allegations of delayed information-sharing and a lack of transparency, claims which WHO has strongly disputed, acknowledging that the pandemic was an unprecedented crisis in which no institution or government got everything right, but insisting that it acted swiftly, openly and based on the best available scientific evidence.

According to WHO, it shared information as soon as it became available and provided guidance to Member States throughout the crisis. While it recommended measures such as mask use, vaccination and physical distancing, the organization emphasized that it never called for mandates or lockdowns, leaving those policy choices to individual governments.

Recounting the early stages of the outbreak, WHO said it requested further details from China immediately after reports emerged on 31 December 2019 of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan. Its emergency incident management system was activated at once. By the time the first death was reported on 11 January 2020, WHO had already alerted the international community, convened experts and published comprehensive guidance for countries.

When the Director-General declared COVID-19 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020, there were fewer than 100 cases reported outside China and no deaths. In the weeks that followed, WHO leadership repeatedly urged governments to act decisively, warning that time was running out and describing the virus as “public enemy number one.”

WHO stated that lessons from multiple reviews of the pandemic, including evaluations of its own performance, have driven reforms to strengthen global preparedness and response systems. These systems, WHO noted, operate continuously and have contributed to protecting all countries, including the United States.

Furthermore, WHO dismissed allegations that it pursues a politicized agenda, reaffirming its role as an impartial United Nations agency governed by its Member States and committed to serving all countries equally.

Despite the US decision, WHO said it remains encouraged by the continued engagement of other Member States. It highlighted the adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, which once ratified will become a major tool of international law to reduce future pandemic risks, as well as ongoing negotiations on a pathogen access and benefit-sharing system to ensure faster detection and fair access to medical countermeasures.

Concluding its statement, WHO expressed hope that the United States would one day resume active participation in the organization. Until then, it pledged to continue working with all nations to uphold its constitutional mandate of ensuring the highest attainable standard of health as a fundamental right for people everywhere.