California Joins WHO Global Outbreak Response Network

SACRAMENTO — California Governor Gavin Newsom announced today that the state has become the first in the United States to join the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, known as GOARN. The announcement followed a meeting between Newsom and WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during the governor’s trip to the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. California’s participation comes amid the United States’ recent withdrawal from the World Health Organization.

The Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network is a WHO-coordinated collaboration of more than 360 technical institutions and networks worldwide. Established in 2000, GOARN brings together ministries of health, research institutions, universities, laboratories, non-governmental organizations, and international agencies to address acute public health events. Its primary mission involves rapid detection, verification, assessment, and response to infectious disease outbreaks and other emergencies with cross-border or pandemic potential.

GOARN is coordinated by WHO headquarters and led by a 21-member Steering Committee. When needed, the network deploys experts and resources to assist in outbreaks, drawing on partners’ capabilities in key public health areas.

Participation in GOARN is open to not-for-profit institutions and organizations that can contribute expertise to alert and response activities. Partners gain access to global collaboration opportunities, capacity-building programs, and coordinated information exchange during health emergencies. They may offer technical support for international responses or request assistance for domestic outbreaks.

For California, membership enables direct engagement with the international network, allowing the state to share expertise and receive coordinated support independent of federal channels. Governor Newsom stated, “The Trump administration’s withdrawal from WHO is a reckless decision that will hurt all Californians and Americans. California will not bear witness to the chaos this decision will bring. We will continue to foster partnerships across the globe and remain at the forefront of public health preparedness, including through our membership as the only state in WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert & Response Network.”

The move positions California to maintain ties with hundreds of public health entities worldwide to support rapid outbreak detection and coordinated response. As of the announcement date, no other U.S. state had joined the network.