Governor Polis Announces Colorado’s Intent to Join World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Network

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~ Colorado Takes Steps to Join WHO's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network

In a move to strengthen its public health system and better protect its citizens, Colorado has announced its intention to join the World Health Organization's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN). This decision comes after the United States officially withdrew from the WHO in January, prompting concerns about access to global public health data.

Governor Jared Polis expressed his support for this move, stating that Colorado wants to learn from health science around the world in order to provide the most advanced and effective treatments for diseases. He also emphasized the importance of timely information and partnerships in disease preparedness, noting that diseases do not stop at borders.

Jill Hunsaker Ryan, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, highlighted the state's strong public health system and stated that joining GOARN would ensure that Colorado's experts have access to the best available science and real-time intelligence.

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Dr. Rachel Herlihy, Deputy Chief Medical Officer and State Epidemiologist, stressed the importance of coordinated global surveillance in identifying risks sooner and responding with precision. She also noted that Colorado has deep expertise in epidemiology, laboratory science, genomic sequencing, and wastewater surveillance – all of which align with GOARN's operational mission.

GOARN is a global partnership coordinated by WHO that brings together over 360 public health institutions, laboratories, and response organizations to detect, verify, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks and public health emergencies. By participating in GOARN, Colorado will have access to real-time global outbreak alerts, technical expertise, and coordinated response support.

Participation in GOARN will not only strengthen Colorado's ability to monitor emerging threats but also allow it to contribute its own public health expertise to international response efforts. With its robust epidemiologic capacity, advanced laboratory infrastructure, genomic sequencing capabilities, wastewater surveillance systems, and experienced emergency response coordination – all of which align with GOARN's operational mission – Colorado is well-equipped to support global efforts in responding to health threats.

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In addition to joining GOARN, Colorado has also become a founding member of the Governors Public Health Alliance (GPHA), a nonpartisan coalition of governors working together to strengthen preparedness and coordination across state lines. Following the U.S. withdrawal from WHO, GPHA announced a new coordinated effort with Boston University's Center on Emerging Infectious Diseases to use information from BEACON – the Biothreats Emergence, Analysis, and Communications Network – for disease tracking and coordinated responses.

Colorado will continue to engage with GPHA and its partners, such as the Center on Emerging Infectious Diseases, in safeguarding public health, enhancing cross-state data exchange, and coordinating evidence-based responses to emerging health threats. With these steps towards joining GOARN and strengthening its partnerships with other states and global organizations, Colorado is taking proactive measures to ensure the health and safety of its citizens.

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