Washington joins the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network

World Health Organization (WHO)

Governor Bob Ferguson announced Washington state is joining the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), a coordinated worldwide partnership dedicated to monitoring and responding to global disease outbreaks.

Following President Trump’s withdrawal of the United States from WHO, Washington will now be connected to an international network essential to strengthening public health preparedness, coordinating rapid response and protecting Washingtonians from emerging diseases. ​

“Washington will not stand idle as the federal government retreats from global public health, undermines science and threatens the wellbeing of our communities,” Governor Bob Ferguson said.

“By joining GOARN, we’re ensuring Washington’s public health leaders have the tools and information they need to protect Washingtonians. We stand with our local and global partners to prioritize the health of our people over politics.”

“Disease outbreaks don’t stop at state or national borders, and our ability to protect people in Washington shouldn’t either,” Washington State Secretary of Health Dennis Worsham said. 

“Joining GOARN ensures we maintain access to critical global outbreak intelligence and stay connected to leading public health experts, even as federal relationships change. We’re not waiting for the next threat — we’re preparing for it. From COVID-19 to rising measles cases and avian influenza, we’ve seen how quickly diseases can spread. Through GOARN, we can detect risks earlier, respond faster and better protect people in our communities — while also contributing Washington’s expertise to global response efforts.”

More information here