The U.S. and the WHO on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) “to help developing nations strengthen their capabilities to support the International Health Regulations (IHR),” which is “an international agreement that requires WHO Member States to prevent and respond to acute public health risks that have the potential to cross borders and threaten people worldwide,” according to a State Department press release. “The MOU establishes a framework for collaboration in line with the provisions set forth in the IHR, which provides a construct for coordinating the management of actions in the event of a public health emergency of international concern,” the release states (9/19).