President Trump's order to withdraw the World Health Organization could cancel programs to ensure safety, safety and research on the deadly virus that once cost five billion people, experts said It warns. His hideout could end decades, which they added, when the agency directed the management of the remains of the native PO virus in America's cache.
Health experts say the cancellation of WHO oversight is threatening to damage preventative measures against the virus that are leaking worldwide and disrupt research into measures against fatal diseases. They added that it could cause fear among allies and enemies that the US might weaponize the natural PO virus under a veil of secrets.
“I'm in that lab,” said Thomas R. Frieden, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, where American cache resides. “Imagine submarines in buildings and people roaming around on spacecraft. It looks like something from the movie.” To reduce the risks and misunderstandings of natural POs, Dr. Frieden said, “We need to open for inspections.” There's one,” he added.
On Monday, Dartmouth medical professor Daniel R. Lucy posted an article on the American Infectious Diseases Society blog.
Half a century ago, WHO purged the natural PO virus from human populations after tragedy killed people for thousands of years. Dr. Frieden called it “one of the greatest achievements of not only medicine but global collaboration.”
Reproduction was eradicated by people, but two repositories were preserved to allow the study of the virus if it reappeared. One is in Atlanta and the other in Russia. To reduce leaks, both caches are stored in special labs classified as Biosafety Level 4, the highest level of protection.
In recent years, Geneva-based WHO has argued the safety and scientific merits of proposed research on natural pos by both the CDC and its Russian counterparts. Despite its role being described as public advice, it has the authority to grant or deny permission. The agent also regularly inspects the Natural Po Lab for safety rise.
Health experts warn that Trump's withdrawal from international surveillance could end Washington's ability to scrutinize Moscow's natural po-cache. “If you want to test a lab in Russia,” Dr. Frieden said.
According to the Federal Intelligence Evaluation, Russia is probably hiding some natural PO viruses for military use. Health experts also warn that the US exit from the WHO could inspire fear that the US might weaponize a deadly virus.
During his first term as president, Trump denounced the WHO for handling the coronavirus pandemic and ordered his withdrawal in July 2020. But six months later, before the separation was completed, former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. reversed Trump's decision on his first day in office.
This time, Trump has become stronger and issued an executive order within hours of his inauguration, notifying the US to withdraw. He also told his administration to identify US and global partners who could “consider the necessary activities” previously carried out by the WHO.
A week later, the CDC was ordered to end all collaborations with WHO
It is not clear whether the WHO and CDC have completely ended their natural po cooperation. Their replies to the email query seemed contradictory, and the White House did not respond.
WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeyer said agency officials were still trying to clarify what Trump's order means. The agency is “ready to work with the new US administration to maintain our vital cooperation,” he added. The next test for natural PO is scheduled for May 2026, Lindmeyer added.
The CDC is part of the Department of Health and Human Services, and its communications director, Andrew G. Nixon, said it is complying with Trump's order that the US withdraws from WHO.
Unlike most viruses, the natural po known as Variola is very stable outside the host. It can maintain its ability to infect for a long time and help it spread. The victim develops a high fever, a deep rash, and oozing pustules. Approximately the third die. It is estimated that in the 20th century alone, the virus took more lives than all wars and other epidemics were put together.
In 1959, the WHO decided to eradicate murderers with a global vaccination and quarantine blitz. Little was achieved until 1966 when Washington and Moscow proposed a stronger effort. In that year alone, the disease killed 2 million people. By 1977, the WHO had recorded its final lawsuit and broke a fatal tragedy.
Americans who are dropping out today may be at increased risk of the natural PO virus escape lockdown and reinfecting the world, some health experts say. They consider the threat to be implicit about how CDC Natural Po Lab inspections have made numerous recommendations in the past for safety and security upgrades.
The proposals included improving security systems, training, risk assessment, pressure litigation inspection, accident investigation and staff competency monitoring.
David H. Evans, a virologist at the University of Alberta, tested the CDC virus area twice and was a member of the WHO's Natural POS Scientific Advisory Committee.
Withdrawal from WHO may not increase the risk of leaks, he said, cooperation between the US and WHO works very effectively in improving research and reducing suspicions of illegal work It's.
“People keep talking to each other,” Dr. Evans said. “I'm going back to the idea of transparency. It gives you some ideas about what's going on.”
Last year, a committee of the National Academy of Sciences described the CDC and WHO cooperative natural po research as “urgently necessary.” Looking beyond vaccines, the panel sought a new generation of antiviral drugs, saying it would be better to fight the natural PO of individuals already infected with pathogens.
There was a practical reward for WHO research. The antiviral drug developed by the Natural Po program has been deployed to combat MPOX, previously known as Monkeypox, and is spreading rapidly in parts of Africa, especially in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In 1996, members agreed to a plan to destroy the remaining two strains of the native PO virus. Now, increasingly, we aim to prepare ourselves for potential outbreaks, rather than permanently destroying the virus.
However, these advanced levels of defence plans could be rescinded by the US withdrawal, health experts warn. They fear that more countries may leave the WHO and promote new outbreaks.
Michael T. Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, said Argentina repeatedly retreated Trump from WHO earlier this month, and Hungary and Russia also explored the idea.
“Global health safety is only effective when there is a global representation,” Dr. Osterholm said. “Who will do what we can do. But at some point we are going to take on a real challenge.”
Former CDC Director Dr. Frieden agreed.
“Health is not a zero-sum game,” he said. “When a country is healthy, it helps not only them, but their neighbors and the world.” He says that as a prominent case study on the benefits of global teamwork, purging of natural PO viruses from human populations. I quoted.
“There's no doubt who's more effective,” Dr. Frieden added. “But there is no doubt that it is essential.”
