WHO counters US accusations clearly for the first time

The US had thus sealed its withdrawal from the organization, which it had announced a year ago. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert Kennedy had written, among other things: "Even as we left the organization, the WHO has disparaged everything America has done for it and dragged it through the mud." As an example, they cited the WHO's refusal to hand over a US flag. They later reported that the flag was now back in US possession.

According to the WHO, it has not brought anything into disrepute or dragged it into the mud. "WHO has always sought to work with the United States in good faith and in full respect of its sovereignty."

WHO: Early corona warnings

The WHO also rejects the accusation that the WHO "obstructed the timely and accurate dissemination of important information" during the coronavirus pandemic. In 2020, it informed governments early on in January through all channels about the unusual cases of illness in China and called on them to take precautions. It had declared an international emergency on January 30, the highest alert level, when there were still fewer than 100 corona cases and no deaths outside China.

It hopes that the US government will return to the WHO, the organization said.