As Measles Cases Surge in Texas, WHO’s Global Control Program Risks Collapse
This content was published on February 26, 2025 - 06:57
(Bloomberg) — The World Health Organization has warned that its largest global laboratory network is on the brink of collapse unless new funding is secured to replace the support lost after President Donald Trump’s order to withdraw from the United Nations agency.
The Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network — known internally as “Gremlin” — is the backbone of efforts to track and control infectious threats. With 760 labs worldwide, it tests about 500,000 patient samples annually, identifying outbreaks before they cross borders. Its potential collapse threatens the elimination of measles, which is fueling a growing outbreak in Texas that’s infected at least 124 people and hospitalized 18.
“Protecting this resource is absolutely imperative,” said Matthew Ferrari, director of Pennsylvania State University’s Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics. Measles and rubella elimination set the standard for other programs, and the ‘Gremlin’ network is their foundation. “It provides the information needed to advance those programs, and any threat to it will reverberate far beyond measles.”
The WHO-led program relies entirely on US funding, receiving about $8 million annually to operate. The US was WHO’s biggest donor, contributing $1.3 billion to the organization between 2022 and 2023.
“The network is at risk of collapse unless alternative funding is identified,” Margaret Harris, a WHO spokesperson, said in an email.
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https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/as-measles-cases-surge-in-texas%2c-whos-global-control-program-risks-collapse/88929074