Bloomberg reported on the US withdrawal from WHO with a debt of $260 million

The United States has completed the procedure for withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO) without paying off a debt of about $260 million. This was reported by Bloomberg on January 23.

According to the resolution of the US Congress of 1948, in order to withdraw from the organization, the country must notify it a year in advance, as well as pay off all debts. In January, WHO reported that the debt of the United States amounted to about $260 million.

"A senior official of the Department of Health and Human Services [of the United States] stated during a telephone conversation with reporters that the law does not require paying off debts before leaving the organization," the material says.

Ronald Nahass, President of the American Society of Infectious Diseases, called the US withdrawal from the organization reckless. In his opinion, without an influenza response system and WHO data tracking, states will be less prepared to develop vaccines for circulating strains of the virus.

New COVID-19 strains: who may need revaccination in 2026

Previously vaccinated people may get sick with new strains of coronavirus

The day before, the US State Department announced that after the completion of the process of withdrawal from WHO, the country would limit cooperation with the organization solely to issues related to the completion of withdrawal and the protection of the health of the country's citizens. It is specified that at the same time, all financial obligations and participation of American specialists in WHO initiative structures will be terminated.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.