The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told U.S. health officials to cease cooperating with the World Health Organization (WHO) immediately.

On Jan. 26, Dr. John Nkengasong, CDC senior bureau official for Global Health Security and Diplomacy, sent a memo to senior health officials at the agency to tell all staff who work with the WHO to stop immediately and “await further guidance,” the Associated Press reported. The memo said all in-person and virtual collaboration must stop, and that all CDC staff must not engage with the WHO in any way, including through technical working groups and advisory boards.

As CMM previously reported, President Trump issued an executive order last week to withdraw from the WHO. Exiting the WHO requires one-year notice from the U.S., the approval of Congress, and that the U.S. meets its financial obligations for the current fiscal year. Trump’s order on Jan. 20 claimed that legal notice of withdrawal was given during his first term, in 2020, so the withdrawal can happen immediately, CNN reported.

CNN also reported that Trump has recalled all CDC staff who work in CDC offices, as he announced he would in his executive order. The CDC staff has international offices in more than 60 countries, CNN reported. These offices help provide early warnings of infectious disease outbreaks.

Last week, the president also ordered all federal health agencies to cease any communications for now.

On Jan. 23, Beth E. Risinger of Crooksville, Ohio, passed away. Risinger served as executive director of  IEHA, a division of ISSA, from 1987 to 2015. She facilitated the IEHA and ISSA alliance in 1999 (when IEHA was NEHA—National Executive Housekeepers Association) by holding the NEHA convention in conjunction with ISSA/INTERCLEAN in Chicago. IEHA merged with ISSA in 2017.

“Beth Risinger was a forward-thinking leader for IEHA, and she impressed me deeply with her can-do spirit, willingness to work on the leading edge, and her faith in people to grow and improve through education,” said Allen Rathey, Indoor Health Council director and a consultant for Risinger during her IEHA term. “I recall she spent many hundreds of dollars of her own money to send thank you cards to people she worked with. I was a recipient of more than one. That was Beth. She will be missed.”

During her 28 years of service to IEHA, Risinger served the association with dignity and grace and grew IEHA substantially during her tenure as executive director. Under her leadership IEHA forged relationships with members all over the globe and encouraged them to become part of the association. She was instrumental in establishing the co-location relationship with ISSA in 1989.

“Beth was a friend and mentor to me in my early years as an IEHA member,” said Michael Patterson, IEHA executive director. “I joined IEHA in 1988 and attended my first conference in 1988, and Beth encouraged me to take a chapter position in the Chicago Chapter. That started my leadership in the association. She often gave me advice and encouragement when I had issues while serving and later encouraged me to run for a district leadership position after I served as chapter president. I have never forgotten a quote that she would often say to me as I started my journey in IEHA as a district leader, ‘Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.’

“Beth told me that I would go on to serve as an IEHA association president but to never forget why I am serving the association and to live IEHA’s motto ‘The best of me to my association and the best of my association to me.’ Beth not only shaped the direction of IEHA but also helped shape many leaders like myself. She was loved by the members. Beth is gone, and will be missed but she will never be forgotten.”

Risinger is survived by her children, Bret (Terry) Bodell, Tina (John) Chubb, Eric (Kate) Risinger, and Scott (Tina) Risinger; her sister, Herberta Vallee; and a collection of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. She joins in eternal reunion her parents, Bertram Elmo and Thelma (Bierly) Allard, and her husband, Robert (Bob) Risinger.

A celebration of Risinger’s life will be held on Jan. 31 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Advantage by Schoedinger North, 5544 Karl Road in Columbus. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Crooksville High School Alumni Association for scholarship opportunities. Donations may be sent to: Crooksville High School Alumni Association i/c of Herberta Vallee, 202 Elva Street, Crooksville OH 43731.