Data Report

New York City Becomes First City to Join WHO’s Global Outbreak Response Network

February 10, 2026

"Last week, the NYC Health Department joined the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Outbreak Alert & Response Network (GOARN), becoming the first municipal health department in the United States to join this worldwide network of public health organizations after the U.S. withdrew from the WHO in January 2026.

GOARN provides international public health information and resources to control outbreaks and public health emergencies across the globe. The NYC Health Department follows California and Illinois health departments in joining GOARN."

“New York City is a global city with 8.5 million residents and more than 12 million international visitors every year,” said New York City Acting Health Commissioner and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michelle Morse. “To best prevent disease outbreaks and public health emergencies and to protect New Yorkers and visitors from them, the NYC Health Department is joining hundreds of public health institutions worldwide that share critical public health information to support life-saving prevention and response efforts. Infectious diseases know no boundaries, and nor should the information and resources that help us protect New Yorkers.”

LINK:
https://cmmonline.com/news/nyc-becomes-first-city-to-join-whos-global-outbreak-response-network

California

As the U.S. bids adieu to the World Health Organization, California says hello
January 28, 2026

LINK:
https://www.npr.org/2026/01/28/g-s1-107526/california-world-health-organization-infectious-diseases

WHO Welcomes US States to its Global Disease Outbreaks Network
Pandemic Preparedness 12/02/2026

GOARN is a global network of public health institutions, governments, academic bodies and laboratories that helps to detect and control infectious disease outbreaks and public health emergencies throughout the world.

Dr Maria van Kerkhove, WHO Director of Epidemic and Pandemic Threat Management, said that GOARN is an “asset to the world” that currently has over 360 members.

Established 20 years ago, members include national and sub-national institutions with public health and field experience in outbreak response and preparedness, she explained.

“We welcome anyone who wants to be part of GOARN to see our website and fill in the application. It’s an incredible network of national and sub-national institutes, student and academic organisations that meet regularly and share information. They are sometimes deployed to outbreaks around the world,” Van Kerkhove told a media briefing on Wednesday.

LINK:
https://healthpolicy-watch.news/who-welcomes-us-states-to-its-global-disease-outbreaks-network/

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More States Join WHO Network After US Exit

Several Democratic-led states have signed on to the World Health Organization's global disease response network following the US withdrawal.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

LINK:
https://nationaltoday.com/us/wi/wisconsin-dells/news/2026/02/21/more-states-join-who-network-after-us-exit/