Trump plans to withdraw from WHO worrying Canadian health experts

U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to withdraw from the World Health Organization carries significant consequences for Canada and other countries, as it would weaken global health surveillance during heightened concerns around avian flu, health scholars say.

Mr. Trump signed an executive order hours after his inauguration on Monday that details plans to leave the WHO, a United Nations agency designed to promote health and safety. The U.S. is a founding member of the organization and has participated in its work since 1948.

In a Tuesday statement, the WHO said it regrets that the U.S. intends to withdraw and hopes the country will reconsider its plans. The organization also said it plays a crucial role, such as to address the root causes of disease and to detect, prevent and respond to health emergencies, including disease outbreaks.

Ross Upshur, a physician and head of clinical public health at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, said the decision is shortsighted, warning it will imperil global health.

COVID-19 underscored the need for global co-ordination of research, interventions and information sharing to handle difficult health threats, he said, adding it is not possible to fight a pandemic one country at a time.

"Pulling out all that expertise is a massive loss for the global community," Dr. Upshur said.

Matthew Herder, the director of the Dalhousie Health Justice Institute, stated that Canada and the rest of the world are put at greater risk by this decision. There is a global system that the WHO oversees that collects data about viruses and where they circulate, he added.

"It's possible that, by virtue of pulling out of the WHO, the labs, the scientific infrastructure in the United States, may not be sharing or as forthcoming with that kind of virus data with the rest of the world," Prof. Herder said. "We may know less about what's happening there in terms of Avian influenza moving forward."

This month, the state of Louisiana reported the first human death from avian flu, or H5N1, in the U.S. This past fall, a 13-year-old B.C. teen developed the first known human case of the virus in Canada.

Misinformation flourishes when there is a lack of information, Prof. Herder added. There is growing concern about the spread of misinformation by voices such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Mr. Trump’s nominee for U.S. secretary of health and human sciences.

Mr. Kennedy, who has denied the allegations of spreading misinformation, has been critical of immunizations, while public health officials, including in Canada, assert they are critical for disease prevention. His confirmation hearing has yet to be scheduled.

The spread of health misinformation is a growing concern on this side of the border as well. A newly-released survey commissioned for the Canadian Medical Association found that more Canadians are encountering health misinformation, which carries consequences for health outcomes.

Historically, Canada, like the U.S., has supported the WHO since its inception in 1948. In a statement, Anna Maddison, a spokesperson for the Public Health Agency of Canada, said this country will continue to ensure the WHO is an "effective, accountable, inclusive and well-governed institution, while maintaining our sovereignty."

Lawrence Gostin, director of the WHO Collaborating Center on Global Health Law at Georgetown University, said the loss of American resources for the WHO would devastate global surveillance and epidemic response efforts.

At this time, Dr. Upshur stated that Canada could increase its contribution to the WHO, as well as mobilize its scientific expertise and research power to support it.

In 2022, the WHO reported that Canada contributed more than $900-million in support of global health priorities, including polio eradication and the COVID-19 response.

Spokespeople for the federal Conservatives did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday regarding Mr. Trump's plans and if Canada would remain in the WHO if the party formed government in this year's election.

Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis, who sought to become the leader of her party, has previously been critical of the WHO, citing concerns about its possible influence on Canadian health policy.

Last year, the Prime Minister's Office questioned her support for a petition seeking to have Canada withdraw from the United Nations and its subsidiary agencies.