US Rejects Amendments To WHO Health Rules Aimed At Improving Preparedness For Future Pandemics

Reuters (7/18, Aboulenein) reported, “The United States has rejected amendments adopted in 2024 by members of the World Health Organization to its legally binding health rules aimed at improving preparedness for future pandemics following the disjointed global response to COVID-19.” The State Department and HHS “said in a statement they had transmitted on Friday the official U.S. rejection of the amendments to the International Health Regulations, which were adopted by consensus last year.” According to Reuters, “the amendments introduced a new category of ‘pandemic emergency’ for the most significant and globally threatening health crises in an effort to shore up the world’s defenses against new pathogens.” The Hill (7/18, O’Connell-Domenech) also reported.