India, Feb. 14 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned over the impact of US funding cuts on critical global health initiatives, warning they pose a direct threat to public health efforts worldwide.

In a media briefing on Wednesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the consequences of funding suspensions, including disruptions to HIV treatment, setbacks in polio eradication and limited resources for responding to mpox epidemics in Africa.

"The suspension of funding to PEPFAR, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, caused an immediate stop to HIV treatment, testing and prevention services in the 50 countries," Tedros said.

He noted that despite a waiver for life-saving services, prevention p...