1. United States
2. Utah
3. Letter

California recently became the first and only U.S. state to join the World Health Organization's Global Outbreak Alert & Response Network (GOARN) following the Trump administration's withdrawal from the WHO. Governor Gavin Newsom met with WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Switzerland to formalize this partnership, ensuring California maintains access to critical global public health infrastructure for detecting and responding to emerging threats. I urge Utah to follow California's lead and join GOARN. This WHO-coordinated international network brings together hundreds of public health institutions, national governments, academic centers, laboratories, and response organizations worldwide to rapidly detect, verify, assess, and respond to emerging public health threats with cross-border or pandemic potential. The federal withdrawal from the WHO leaves Americans vulnerable to the next pandemic, but states can act independently to protect their residents. California has demonstrated that states can maintain robust public health partnerships without federal participation. The state launched the Public Health Network Innovation Exchange (PHNIX) last month, engaging respected experts including Dr. Susan Monarez, former CDC Director, and Dr. Debra Houry, former CDC Chief Medical Officer. California also joined 14 other governors in October to form the Governors Public Health Alliance, a non-partisan hub coordinating emergency preparedness and data sharing across state lines. Utah has an opportunity to protect not only its own residents but contribute to global health security. Infectious diseases do not respect borders or political boundaries. When the next outbreak emerges anywhere in the world, early detection and coordinated response through networks like GOARN can save thousands of lives and prevent economic devastation. California's partnership with the WHO ensures access to real-time surveillance data, laboratory expertise, and rapid response capabilities that will be unavailable to states that remain isolated. I ask that Utah join GOARN and explore participation in multi-state public health alliances to ensure Utahns have access to the best available science and international cooperation when the next health emergency arrives.