(Adnkronos) – Italy should stay within the World Health Organisation, foreign minister Antonio Tajani said on Monday as it spearheads efforts to contain a hantavirus outbreak on Dutch cruiseship MV Hondius with passengers from 23 countries on board. Three passengers have died of the virus, with the other passengers and crew being repatriated to isolate and receive any needed medical care.
“The World Health Organisation is important for protecting global health.” Tajani said after a European Union foreign affairs council meeting in Brussels.
“I am not in favour of leaving the WHO,” he continued.
“Everyone is free to do as they please, but I believe we should continue to work within the WHO. All organisations can make mistakes, they can make errors,” Tajani added.
The United States completed its withdrawal from WHO in January in a decision driven by its the global health agency’s alleged mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic among other accusations that include inefficiency, non-transparency and subservience to China.
