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The order of President Trump according to which the United States leaves the World Health Organization could cancel the programs intended to guarantee the security, security and the study of a deadly virus which has already made half a billion lives, warn the experts. His retirement, they add, could finish decades in which the agency has led the management of the remains of variolate viruses in a cache held by the United States.
Health experts say that the MS monitoring threatens to harm the precautions against the virus fleeing worldwide and disrupt research on deadly disease. They add that it could also raise fears of among the allies and adversaries that the United States, under a veil of secret, could armed the variolate virus.
“I have been in this laboratory,” said Thomas R. FriedenFormer director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, where the American cache resides. “Imagine a submarine inside a building and people walking in space combinations. It looks like something of a film. “To reduce the risks of variole and erroneous perceptions, Dr. Frieden added:” We must open up to the inspection. “
Monday, Daniel R. LuceyA Dartmouth medical teacher, Published an article On the blog of the infectious company Society of America, warning that Mr. Trump who comes out could jeopardize the “storage of the smallpox, experiences, reports and inspections”.
Half a century ago, the WHO served The smallpox virus Human populations after the scourge killed people for thousands of years. Dr. Frieden called him “one of the greatest achievements not only of medical science but of global collaboration”.
While the germ was eradicated in people, two standards were preserved to allow a study of the virus if it reappears: one in Atlanta, the other in Russia. To limit leaks, the two covers are stored in special laboratories classified as a level of biosecurity 4, the highest level of protection.
In recent years, WHO, based in Geneva, ruled The security and scientific merit of the studies offered on the smallpox by the CDC and its Russian counterpart. He has the power of grant or refuse Permission despite its role publicly describes as an advisory. The agency too inspect Smallpox laboratories for security.
Health experts warn that Mr. Trump’s exit from international surveillance could end Washington’s ability to examine Moscow’s smallpox cache. “If we want to inspect the Russian laboratory,” said Dr. Frieden, “we have to be part of who”
Russia probably hides a certain virus of the Motority for Military Use, according to a federal intelligence assessment. Health experts also warn that the US OMS exit could fear that the United States will be able to armed the deadly virus.
During his first mandate as president, Trump was unleashed at the WHO on his manipulation of the coronavirus pandemic and, in July 2020, ordered a withdrawal. But six months later, before the separation could be completed, former president Joseph R. Biden Jr. canceled Mr. Trump’s decision on his first day in power.
This time, Mr. Trump came stronger, issuing a executive decree In the hours following their takeover that pointed out the American withdrawal. He also told his administration to identify the American and global partners who could “assume the necessary activities” that WHO had previously carried out.
A week later, the CDC was ordered To end any collaboration with WHO
It is not clear if the WHO and the CDC have completely ended their cooperation by smallpox. Their answers to requests by email seemed contradictory and the White House did not respond.
Christian Lindmeier, an WHO spokesman, said that agency officials were still trying to clarify the implications of Mr. Trump’s order. The agency, he added, “is ready to work with the new American administration to support our vital collaboration”. The next variolate inspection, added Mr. Lindmeier, is scheduled for May 2026.
The CDC is part of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, including the communications director Andrew G. Nixon, only said that he was complying with Trump’s order for the United States to withdraw from WHO
Unlike most viruses, smallpoxKnown as Variola, is very stable outside of its host. It can long keep its power to infect, helping its spread. Victims develop high fevers, deep rashes and suining pustules. About a third die. In the 20th century only, the virus would have taken more lives than all the wars and other epidemics combined.
In 1959, the WHO decided to eradicate the killer in a blitz of world vaccinations and quarantines. Little was made until Washington and Moscow in 1966 offer a stronger effort. Only this year, the disease killed two million people. In 1977, the WHO recorded its last case, beating the mortal scourge.
Today, the outgoing Americans can increase the risk that the smallpox virus will escape isolation and reinfect the world, according to some health experts. They see this threat as implicit in the way inspections of the past of CDC Smallpox laboratories have done dozens of recommendations For safety and safety improvements.
Proposals included better security systems, training, risk assessments, pressure combinations inspections, accident surveys and staff skills.
David H. EvansA virologist at the University of Alberta, has twice inspected the CDC virus area and was a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of WHO Sallpox.
While withdrawing from WHO may not increase the risk of leakage, he said, collaboration between the United States and WHO works efficiently to improve research and reduce suspicion of illicit work.
“It makes people talk to each other,” said Dr. Evans. “It comes back to the idea of transparency. It gives you an idea of what’s going on.
Last year, a panel of the National Academy of Sciences describes the Smallpox cooperative research CDC and WHO as “necessary urgently”. Looking beyond the vaccines, the panel called for a new generation of antiviral drugs that were better to fight smallpox in individuals already infected with the pathogen.
WHO’s search has had practical gains. Antiviral drugs developed by its smallpox program were deployed To fight MPOX, formerly known as Monkeypox, which quickly spreads in certain parts of Africa, in particular in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In 1996, WHO members agreed on a plan To destroy the two remaining stocks of the smallpox virus. Now, more and more, it aims to prepare for potential epidemics rather than to definitively extinguish the virus.
But these increased levels of defensive planning could be canceled by the American withdrawal, warn health experts. They fear that more countries can leave WHO, stimulating new epidemics.
Michael T. Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, noted that Argentina, echoing Mr. Trump, withdrew from WHO at the start of this month , and that Hungary and Russia also explored the idea.
“World health security is only effective if we have a global representation,” said Dr. Osterholm. “Who will do what he can. But at some point, we will have a real challenge. »»
Dr. Frieden, the former CDC director, accepted.
“Health is not a zero-sum game,” he said. “When a country is in good health, it helps not only them, but their neighbors and the world.” He quoted the purge of the virus of the smallpox of human populations as a remarkable case study in the advantages of world teamwork.
“There is no doubt that could be more effective,” added Dr. Frieden. “But there is no doubt that it is essential.”
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