The New York State Department of Health has officially joined the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, or GOARN. According to Governor Kathy Hochul, the move strengthens New York’s role in global public health preparedness and response.
“By joining GOARN, we’re sharing our expertise, laboratories and highly skilled workforce to detect and respond to outbreaks worldwide while helping prevent global health threats from reaching New York State and the United States,” Hochul said.
The network, coordinated by the WHO, connects over 300 technical institutions worldwide to provide rapid outbreak detection, verification, and response. GOARN supports countries with laboratory capacity, technical expertise, and operational coordination to reduce public health threats.
James McDonald, New York State Health Commissioner, said the partnership allows the state to provide technical assistance, strengthen infection control, and help manage public health emergencies globally.
New York’s Wadsworth Center, part of the state Department of Health, will contribute advanced diagnostic testing, genomic sequencing, and reference services to GOARN operations. The collaboration will also give New York earlier access to outbreak intelligence, enhance workforce expertise through real-world response experience, and improve preparedness for emerging public health threats.
Governor Hochul noted that the partnership comes as a response to the federal government’s withdrawal from the WHO in 2020, emphasizing New York’s commitment to protecting both state residents and global communities.
The Department of Health, established in 1901, is one of the nation’s oldest and largest state health agencies, overseeing disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, environmental health, maternal and child health, chronic disease prevention, and regulation of healthcare facilities.
