CDC Staff Ordered to Cut Communications With WHO

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) staff have been ordered to cut communication with the 🌍World Health Organization (WHO) in the wake of executive orders signed by President 👤Donald Trump.

According to CNN, a memo sent to senior agency leadership by CDC Deputy Director of Global Health Dr. John Nkengasong, detailed how all contact with the organization must cease.

“Effective immediately all CDC staff engaging with WHO through technical working groups, coordinating centers, advisory boards, cooperative agreements or other means — in person or virtual — must cease their activity and await further guidance,” the memo says.

To ↩️Withdraw formally from WHO, the U.S. must give the organization at least one years’ notice, however, Trump already initiated a withdrawal in 2020, allowing it to take place at any time following his executive order.

Dr. Lawrence Gostin, a global health expert at Georgetown University, told CNN the move was “reckless” and noted it makes the U.S. more vulnerable. Gostin further runs the WHO coordinating center on national and global health law.