NEW YORK CITY –
The NYC Health Department announced today that is has joined the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Outbreak Alert & Response Network (GOARN), becoming the first municipal health department in the United States to join this worldwide network of public health organizations after the U.S. withdrew from the WHO in January 2026. GOARN provides international public health information and resources to control outbreaks and public health emergencies across the globe. The NYC Health Department follows California and Illinois health departments in joining GOARN.
“New York City is a global city with 8.5 million residents and more than 12 million international visitors every year,” said New York City Acting Health Commissioner and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michelle Morse. “To best prevent disease outbreaks and public health emergencies and to protect New Yorkers and visitors from them, the NYC Health Department is joining hundreds of public health institutions worldwide that share critical public health information to support life-saving prevention and response efforts. Infectious diseases know no boundaries, and nor should the information and resources that help us protect New Yorkers.”
By joining GOARN, New York City gains access to a global network of over 360 institutions and organizations that respond to acute public health events with the deployment of staff and resources to affected countries. The network delivers rapid and effective support to prevent and control infectious diseases outbreaks and public health emergencies when requested.
