26/01/2026

MONDAY | JAN 26, 2026

26

HEALTH

US withdraws from World Health Organisation

Often mistaken for a common cold or seasonal flu, RSV is in fact one of the leading causes of severe respiratory illness in infants worldwide. Nearly all children will be infected with RSV by the age of two. For some, especially newborns and older adults, the consequences can be serious and even life-threatening. Globally, RSV causes about 3.6 million hospitalisations and around 100,000 deaths each year among children under five. Almost all of these deaths happen in low and middle income countries, where access to hospital care may be limited. RSV is one of the most common causes of severe lung infections in young children, yet many families are not aware of how serious it can be. Early awareness and prevention can save lives. Why families should pay attention RSV does not only affect babies. Older adults, especially those aged 65 and above, or living with diabetes, heart disease, asthma or lung conditions, are also at high risk. For babies under six months, RSV can cause breathing to become fast and difficult. Some babies struggle to feed or sleep and may need oxygen or intensive care. For older adults, symptoms may start mildly, with a cough or tiredness, but can worsen quickly and lead to T HE US officially left the World Health Organisation (WHO) last Thursday after a year of warnings that doing so would hurt public health in the US and globally, saying its decision reflected failures in the UN health agency’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic. President Donald Trump gave notice that the US would quit the organisation on the first day of his presidency in 2025, via an executive order. According to a press release from the US Health and State Departments, the US will only work with the WHO in a limited fashion in order to effectuate the withdrawal. “We have no plans to participate as an observer, and we have no plans of rejoining,” a senior government health official said. The US said it plans to work directly with other countries – rather than through an international organisation – on disease surveillance and other public health priorities. Dispute over US-owed fees Under US law, it was supposed to give one-year notice and pay all outstanding fees – around US$260 million (RM1.04 billion) – before departing. But a US State Department official disputed that the statute contains a condition that any payment needs to be made before withdrawal. “The American people have paid more than enough,” a State Department spokesperson said in an email earlier on Thursday. The Health and Human Services Department said in a document released on Thursday that the

Quick return unlikely Over the last year, many global health experts have urged a rethink, including most recently WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The WHO also said the US has not yet paid the fees it owes for 2024 and 2025. Member states are set to discuss the US departure and how it will be handled at the WHO’s executive board in February, a WHO spokesperson said. “This is a clear violation of US law. But Trump is highly likely to get away with it,” said Lawrence Gostin, founding director of the O’Neill Institute for Global Health Law at Georgetown University in Washington, a close observer of the WHO. Bill Gates – chair of the Gates Foundation, a major funder of global health initiatives and some of the WHO’s work – said at Davos that he did not expect the US to reconsider in the short term. Gates said he would still advocate for the US to rejoin. “The world needs the WHO,” he said. What departure means The US departure has sparked a financial crisis that has seen the

o Experts warn move could hurt global threat readiness government had ended its funding contributions to the agency. Trump had exercised his authority to pause the future transfer of any US government resources to the WHO because the organization had cost the US trillions of dollars, the HHS spokesperson said. The US flag had been removed from outside the WHO headquarters in Geneva on Thursday, according to witnesses. In recent weeks, the US has moved to exit a number of other UN organisations, and some fear that Trump’s recently launched Board of Peace could undermine the UN as a whole. Several WHO critics have also proposed setting up a new agency to replace the organisation, although a proposal document reviewed by the Trump administration last year instead suggested the US push for reforms and American leadership at WHO.

WHO logo and US flag are seen in this illustration. – REUTERSPIC

unclear how the collaboration will work going forward. Global health experts said this posed risks for the US, the WHO and the world. “The US withdrawal from WHO could weaken the systems and collaborations the world relies on to detect, prevent and respond to health threats,” said Kelly Henning, public health programme lead at Bloomberg Philanthropies, a US based non-profit. – Reuters

WHO cut its management team in half and scale back work, cutting budgets across the agency. Washington has traditionally been by far the UN health agency’s biggest financial backer, contributing around 18% of its overall funding. The WHO will also shed around a quarter of its staff by the middle of this year. The agency said it has been working with the US and sharing information in the last year. It was

Why RSV prevention should be among every household’s 2026 priorities AS Malaysian families step into 2026, many will be setting New Year goals such as eating healthier, exercising more and spending quality time with loved ones. Yet one important health resolution is often overlooked, protecting the youngest and oldest members of the family from the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). available in some countries to protect adults aged 60 and above, especially those with underlying conditions.

For the sandwich generation, this means taking the lead. Many parents may downplay symptoms or avoid seeking care. Adult children are often the ones who need to encourage doctor visits, ask about vaccination options and watch for warning signs. Simple steps families can take Beyond vaccination, everyday habits play a role in reducing RSV risk. Before visiting a newborn, avoid close contact if you are unwell. Wash hands regularly. Improve airflow at home by opening windows when possible. Wear a mask if you have a cough, especially around babies or elderly family members. RSV prevention works best when families act together. Protecting one vulnerable person helps protect the whole household. Starting 2026 with right conversation RSV may not be widely discussed, but its impact is real. A hospital stay affects not just the patient, but the entire family, emotionally, physically and financially. As Malaysians step into 2026, awareness is the first step. Talk to your doctor. Ask about RSV protection for your baby and your parents. Make RSV prevention part of your family’s health checklist for the year ahead. Protecting every breath, from a baby’s first to a parent’s next, is a resolution that truly matters. This article is contributed by consultant paediatrician Dr Jenny Tan Yen Ling.

In many Malaysian households, grandparents also help care for grandchildren and families spend a lot of time together indoors.

serious complications. In many Malaysian households, grandparents also help care for grandchildren and families spend a lot of time together indoors. RSV spreads easily through coughs, sneezes and close contact. An adult with a mild cough may unknowingly pass the virus to a newborn or an elderly parent. Why prevention is so important There is currently no specific medicine that cures RSV. Doctors can only provide supportive care, such as oxygen, fluids and monitoring. This is why prevention is so important. When it comes to RSV, prevention is the strongest protection. Once severe illness develops, treatment options are limited. The good news is that new

six months. Maternal immunisation allows protection to start even before the baby is born. In 2025, the World Health Organisation recommended maternal RSV vaccination for global use, providing a strong scientific foundation for countries to plan how best to protect mothers and babies. For new parents or those planning a family, this means having an early conversation with a doctor about RSV, just as they would for other pregnancy vaccinations. It is about giving babies a stronger start from day one. Why our parents are at risk too RSV also places a heavy burden on older adults. Worldwide, hundreds of thousands of seniors are hospitalised each year due to RSV. Vaccines are now

preventive tools are now available, offering protection at both ends of the family tree. Protecting babies before birth One of the most important breakthroughs is maternal RSV immunisation. When a pregnant woman receives the RSV vaccine, usually between the 32nd and 36th week of pregnancy, protective antibodies pass through the placenta to her unborn baby. This gives newborns protection during their first months of life, when their immune systems are still developing and they are most vulnerable. Studies show that maternal RSV vaccination can reduce severe RSV illness by up to 82% in the first three months after birth, with protection continuing through the first