Member states of the World Health Organization are gathering in Geneva on Monday for the agency’s annual assembly amid growing concern over deadly hantavirus and Ebola outbreaks, as well as uncertainty surrounding the announced withdrawals of the United States and Argentina.
Although the rare hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship is not formally on the agenda, it is expected to dominate discussions alongside the fresh Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The week-long meeting comes at a difficult time for the WHO, which has faced mounting financial pressure following the announced US withdrawal and funding cuts that forced the agency to reduce its budget and staff. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus insisted in April that the organisation was now “stable” and moving forward.
The withdrawals announced by the United States and Argentina are expected to loom large over the assembly. US President Donald Trump formally notified the WHO in January 2025 of Washington’s intent to leave the agency, with Argentina later following suit. However, the WHO has not officially confirmed either withdrawal.
Diplomats and observers also expect discussions on the stalled pandemic treaty negotiations, the upcoming WHO leadership race, and resolutions related to Ukraine, the Palestinian territories and Iran. Officials say a major focus of the assembly will be whether to begin broader reforms of the global health system to improve coordination among international health agencies.
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