Through the Static

By Hannah Saunders

The Evergreen State has officially joined the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), which will strengthen the state’s ability to monitor and respond to disease outbreaks across the globe, and it comes months after Trump withdrew the U.S. from the WHO. Governor Bob Ferguson’s decision to unite with GOARN means Washington will be part of an international network focused on public health preparedness, rapid response, and prevention. 

“Joining GOARN ensures we maintain access to critical global outbreak intelligence and stay connected to leading public health experts, even as federal relationships change. We’re not waiting for the next threat— we’re preparing for it,” Dennis Worsham, Washington State Secretary of Health, said. “From COVID-19 to rising measles cases and avian influenza, we’ve seen how quickly diseases can spread. Through GOARN, we can detect risks earlier, respond faster and better protect people in our communities— while also contributing Washington’s expertise to global response efforts.” 

GOARN consists of 360 public health agencies and national governments, academic centers, laboratories, and organizations that are focused on the swift detection and prevention of public health emergencies across the globe. Washington’s public health officials will receive early warning alerts of global outbreaks; technical collaboration and support during epidemics; international training and the exchange of best practices; and support for coordinated responses to public health emergencies. 

The Operational Support Team, which facilitates daily operations at GOARN, is based at the WHO’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. GOARN is governed by a steering committee, which has over 21 partners that control the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the network’s goals and activities. 

On January 22, Trump signed an executive order and officially withdrew the U.S. from the WHO primarily due to its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This means the country no longer supplies the organization with funding, and employees were removed from Geneva’s headquarters and offices across the globe. 

“Following its withdrawal from the WHO, the U.S. remains the world’s leading authority in public health. The U.S. will continue to ensure rapid detection and response to infectious disease outbreaks, strengthen global biosecurity coordination, and drive health innovation,” according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). “Withdrawing from WHO restores long-overdue accountability and transparency for U.S. taxpayers…the U.S. has for decades carried a disproportionate share of the organization’s financial burden.” 

Shortly afterwards, Dr. Roger A. Mitchell, president of the National Medical Association, issued a statement highlighting the seriousness of Trump’s drastic decision. 

“This move places the health and safety of people in the United States, and especially vulnerable communities, at increased risk,” Dr. Mitchell said. “The loss of collaboration, shared disease surveillance, and scientific exchange undermines preparedness and weakens the nation’s ability to respond effectively to public health emergencies.” 

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is leading the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, which is anti-science and filled with misinformation. Measles cases have skyrocketed across the country since Trump retook office, with RFK Jr. having a major impact by claiming vaccines cause Autism and are a personal choice. Also this year, the child immunization schedule was slashed by one-third. 

Additional health measures in WA

Gov. Ferguson has been entering interstate compacts to improve the state’s response to any upcoming public health emergencies, as the public’s trust in health officials continues to wane. Last year, WA joined the West Coast Health Alliance alongside Oregon, California, and Hawai’i, where leaders collaborate to release credible information to communities, share tools and best practices, among others. 

Last October, Gov. Ferguson joined the Governor’s Public Health Alliance, where governors come together to build up coordination efforts, preparedness, and response to health crises. States involved include Oregon, California, Hawai’i, Colorado, Illinois, North Carolina, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts. 

More recently, Gov. Ferguson signed a bill into law on March 9 that deviates from the federal government’s decision-making authority on vaccines and vital preventative healthcare. This law allows the state’s Department of Health to provide vaccine recommendations based on scientific evidence, rather than false claims, and medical expertise. 

“Washington will not stand idle as the federal government retreats from global public health, undermines science and threatens the wellbeing of our communities,” Governor Bob Ferguson said. “By joining GOARN, we’re ensuring Washington’s public health leaders have the tools and information they need to protect Washingtonians. We stand with our local and global partners to prioritize the health of our people over politics.”

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