Opinion from Jim King / May 17, 2026
In January, 2026, the President withdrew the United Sates from the World Health
organization. As justification the President used falsehoods regarding the WHO’s
competence and authority. His cited grievances matched to his own administration’s
early handling of COVID-19.
What the US lost by the withdrawal was access to world-wide data, access to viral
specimens, access to expertise, and respect world-wide.
On April 1, 2026, an outbreak of the Andes hantavirus occurred on a cruise ship
carrying 147 souls from 23 nations. The Andes hantavirus is very deadly, has a long
incubation period, and is transmissible by human-to-human contact. There were a
number of Americans aboard.
The outbreak was reported to the WHO on May 2. The WHO began a multi-national
coordinated response within hours. The US Center for Disease Control showed up two
weeks later. The CDC has asked the WHO for help.
I say, if the United States wants to be a player on the world’s stage, we must act on that
stage. Rejoin and fully participate in the WHO.
