NYC Joins WHO Outbreak Network After U.S. Withdrawal

NYC becomes the first U.S. city to join the WHO's Global Outbreak Alert & Response Network (GOARN) following the official U.S. withdrawal from the WHO in Jan 2026.

The New York City Health Department has officially joined the World Health Organization's Global Outbreak Alert & Response Network (GOARN), becoming the first municipal health department in the United States to do so following the nation's formal withdrawal from the WHO in January 2026. This direct action by the city's health agency defies the federal exit and establishes an autonomous channel for global outbreak intelligence and response coordination.

The move follows similar commitments from the state health departments of California and Illinois, creating a coalition of subnational entities maintaining WHO ties. GOARN is a worldwide network of over 360 technical institutions that mobilizes rapid response teams, shares real-time data, and coordinates resources during international public health emergencies such as pandemics.

"Infectious diseases know no boundaries, and nor should the information and resources that help us protect New Yorkers," said NYC Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse. As a global hub with millions of international visitors annually, the city cited its need for direct access to frontline outbreak alerts and best practices to protect its residents.

The decision is a direct response to former President Donald Trump's executive order initiating the U.S. exit from the WHO, a process completed last month. Democratic leaders at the state and city levels have framed these independent affiliations as essential for public health security amid federal disengagement.

Membership in GOARN provides NYC with weekly global health briefings, opportunities to contribute technical expertise, and direct communication lines during high-risk events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It allows the city to integrate WHO-led outbreak protocols directly into its robust emergency response systems, which have been activated for threats from COVID-19 to mpox.