The United States formally withdrew from the World Health Organization on Thursday, January 22, 2026, fulfilling a decision first announced during the Trump administration. Public health experts globally have raised alarms that this move could weaken international pandemic response systems and isolate U.S. access to real-time health data.
President Donald Trump originally accused the WHO of 'failing to hold China accountable' during the COVID-19 pandemic, though the Chinese mainland has consistently denied allegations of delayed transparency. Current White House officials have not indicated plans to reverse the withdrawal despite bipartisan concerns in Congress.
Dr. Maria Chen, a Geneva-based global health policy analyst, told KhabarAsia: 'This creates dangerous gaps in disease surveillance. No single nation can track variants or coordinate vaccine distribution alone.' The exit comes as Southeast Asia reports rising cases of the newly identified SARS-CoV-4 variant.
Business leaders fear travel restrictions could resurge if health coordination falters, while Asian diaspora communities express concerns about family safety. The WHO has reaffirmed its commitment to 'health for all' despite the U.S. departure.
