NYC Becomes First City to Join WHO’s Global Outbreak Response Network

Last week, the NYC Health Department 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.”

GOARN is a WHO-coordinated international public health network that brings together hundreds of public health institutions, governments, academic centers, laboratories, and response organizations worldwide, with a mission to detect, verify, assess, and respond rapidly to emerging public health threats—particularly those with international or pandemic potential. The NYC Health Department is one of the largest public health agencies in the world, with a mission to protect and promote the health of more than 8.5 million New Yorkers. As a global city, the NYC Health Department also supports the health of more than 12 million international visitors to New York City each year.

The NYC Health Department serves as the lead agency for planning and response for citywide public health emergencies. This work includes:

• Monitoring more than 90 infectious diseases and rapidly responding to the detection of clusters and outbreaks.
• Maintaining a health alert and advisory network of more than 47,000 recipients, tailored to health care providers and partners, to rapidly disseminate information.
• Supporting community engagement through trusted partnerships with community-based and health care organizations by providing timely, accurate information to marginalized communities for the advancement of improved equity across New York City.

During citywide public health emergencies, the NYC Health Department works within the city’s overarching response to keep New Yorkers safe, including by:

• Conducting disease surveillance and epidemiology
• Issuing public health orders, clinical guidance, and risk communication
• Providing mass prophylaxis, vaccination, and laboratory testing
• Assessing mental health needs and service coordination

The NYC Health Department maintains a robust organizational management structure for the command, control, and coordination of agency emergency response functions, personnel, and resources. These systems have been well-exercised, with eight activations over the past decade including for Zika, avian influenza H7N2, measles, COVID-19, and mpox.

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. Through this expanded partnership, New York City will have access to weekly meetings and reports with updates on international global health issues, additional opportunities to contribute to the global health landscape and provide technical assistance and expertise to partners across the U.S. and abroad, and direct access and communication with global partners during major events with high levels of international travel, such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup.