The World Health Organization (WHO) has formally expressed regret following the United States’ notification of withdrawal from the global health body, warning that the move weakens both national and global health security.

In a detailed statement, WHO noted that the United States is a founding member of the organization and has historically played a central role in some of the world’s most significant public health achievements.

These include the eradication of smallpox and sustained progress in combating diseases such as polio, HIV, Ebola, influenza, tuberculosis, malaria, neglected tropical diseases, and antimicrobial resistance.

According to the WHO, the notification of withdrawal will be reviewed by the organization’s Executive Board during its regular meeting starting on 2 February, before being considered by the World Health Assembly at its annual session in May 2026. These discussions will examine the procedural and governance implications of the decision.

The organization pushed back strongly against accusations made by the US government, which cited alleged failures by the WHO during the COVID-19 pandemic as a key reason for its decision.

US officials alleged that the agency obstructed the timely and accurate sharing of critical information and later concealed those failures, a claim WHO described as untrue.

“While no organization or government got everything right,” WHO said, it stands by its response to the unprecedented global health crisis.

The agency maintained that it acted swiftly and transparently, sharing all available information with the global community and issuing guidance based on the best scientific evidence at the time.

Decisions on how to implement public health measures, it said, were made independently by sovereign governments.

The statement also revisited the early timeline of the pandemic response, noting that the WHO sought additional information from China immediately after reports of a cluster of pneumonia cases of unknown cause in Wuhan emerged on 31 December 2019.

By 11 January 2020, when the first COVID-19-related death was reported, WHO had already alerted countries through formal channels, convened international experts, and issued technical guidance to help governments protect their populations.

When the WHO Director-General declared COVID-19 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020, the highest alert under international health law, there were fewer than 100 reported cases outside China and no recorded deaths, the organization said.

WHO also rejected claims that it had pursued a politicized or bureaucratic agenda influenced by countries hostile to US interests.

As a specialized agency of the United Nations governed by 194 Member States, WHO said it remains impartial and committed to serving all countries equally, with respect for national sovereignty.

In response to multiple independent reviews of the global COVID-19 response, including assessments of its own performance, WHO said it has strengthened its systems for pandemic preparedness and response. These systems, which operate around the clock, continue to contribute to global disease surveillance and emergency readiness.

The organization highlighted recent progress by Member States, including the adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement in 2025. Once ratified, the agreement is expected to become a landmark international legal instrument aimed at improving preparedness for future pandemics.

Negotiations are also ongoing around a Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing system designed to promote rapid pathogen sharing and equitable access to vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments.

Despite the US decision, the WHO reaffirmed its commitment to working with all countries to address major communicable and noncommunicable health threats.

The organization also expressed hope that the United States would reconsider its position and return to active participation in the future.

“WHO remains steadfastly committed to its constitutional mandate,” the statement said, “to achieve the highest attainable standard of health as a fundamental right for all people.”