The World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded the alarm that its global laboratory network, responsible for tracking and controlling infectious diseases, is on the verge of collapse due to a severe funding gap. The 760-lab “Gremlin” network, which analyzes over 500,000 patient samples annually, plays a crucial role in identifying outbreaks before they spread globally. With measles cases surging in Texas, where at least 124 people have been infected and 18 hospitalized, the WHO’s warning has never been more urgent. A lack of funding, partly due to US President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the UN agency, threatens the network’s stability and jeopardizes efforts to eliminate measles, a disease that has sparked widespread concern in the US.
Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-26/as-measles-cases-surge-in-texas-who-s-global-control-program-risks-collapse?srnd=homepage-asia