Bill Gates has said Donald Trump’s decision to stop United States (US) funding of the World Health Organization (WHO)”during a world health crisis” is as “dangerous as it sounds”.

The Microsoft founder tweeted:”Their work is slowing the spread of COVID-19 and if that work is stopped no other organization can replace them. The world needs WHO now more than ever.”

 

He blamed the group for promoting China’s “disinformation” about the virus in the days following the initial outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

The virus – which has infected almost two million people worldwide – could have been contained at its source if the WHO had been better at investigating the initial reports that came from China, Mr Trump said.

But he added that the US will continue to engage with the organization to pursue what he described as meaningful reforms.

The US is one of the World Health Organization’s biggest financial backers, it is seconded by Chinathen Japan.