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El Salvador Becomes First Country In Central America To Eliminate Trachoma: WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated El Salvador for eliminating <span>trachoma</span>, the world's leading infectious cause of <span>blindness</span>, as a public health problem.

El Salvador is the first country in Central America and the second in the Americas to achieve this milestone.

"I congratulate El Salvador on this remarkable achievement. It is a testament to the power of political commitment, strategic investment, and community engagement," said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

"El Salvador's success is a vital step towards our global target of eliminating trachoma worldwide by 2030 and a clear signal that a healthier, more equitable future is within reach," he added.

<h2>El Salvador's Journey To Trachoma Elimination</h2>

<strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/us-appeals-court-revives-over-500-tylenol-lawsuits-over-autism-claims-article-155093542" data-type="tilCustomLink">US Appeals Court Revives Over 500 Tylenol Lawsuits Over Autism Claims</a>

Between 2023 and 2026, El Salvador conducted targeted assessments in communities identified as at higher environmental and social risk. The surveys found no evidence of active trachoma transmission.

As per the WHO, "no cases of active disease were detected in children, and no adults were found to have advanced trachoma capable of causing blindness". These findings confirmed that trachoma is no longer a public health problem in the country, the UN health agency said.

El Salvador's achievement was supported by a coordinated approach that included:

<ul><li>Strengthening primary healthcare services</li><li>Improving water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)</li><li>Expanding eye health services, including adult vision screening</li><li>Collaboration between government agencies, communities and international partners</li></ul>

The country has also established trained health personnel, integrated surveillance systems and the capacity to detect and treat trichiasis—the advanced stage of trachoma in which eyelashes turn inward and can lead to blindness.

Trachoma is a <span>bacterial eye infection</span> caused by <em>Chlamydia trachomatis</em>.  It can spread from person to person through contaminated fingers, fomites and flies that could come into contact with discharge from the eyes or nose of an infected person. 

Environmental risks like poor hygiene, overcrowded households, and inadequate access to water and sanitation facilities can also lead to trachoma.

Repeated infections can scar the inner eyelid, causing the eyelashes to turn inward—a condition known as trichiasis. Without treatment, the eyelashes scratch the surface of the eye, potentially leading to irreversible blindness. 

Read More: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/wegovy-more-likely-to-cause-rare-blindness-than-ozempic-and-other-similar-drugs-recent-study-finds-article-155092798" data-type="tilCustomLink">Wegovy More Likely To Cause Rare Blindness Than Ozempic And Other Similar Drugs, Recent Study Finds</a> 

<h2>Trachoma Still Persists In Parts Of The Americas</h2>

Although El Salvador has eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, the disease remains endemic in rural and remote areas of Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala and Peru.

WHO recommends that countries maintaining elimination continue surveillance and ensure access to quality eye care services to prevent the disease from re-emerging.

WHO defines elimination of trachoma as a public health problem based on three key criteria:

<ul><li>Trichiasis prevalence of less than 0.2% among people aged 15 years and older.</li><li>Active trachoma (trachomatous inflammation–follicular) prevalence of less than 5% among children aged 1–9 years in every previously endemic district.</li><li>A functioning health system capable of identifying and managing new trichiasis cases.</li></ul>

With this achievement, El Salvador joins 64 countries worldwide that have been validated by WHO for eliminating at least one <span>neglected tropical disease</span>. Seven of these countries are in the Americas.

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El Salvador Eliminates Trachoma

Trachoma

neglected tropical disease

blindness

bacterial eye infection

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated El Salvador for eliminating trachoma, the world's leading infectious cause of blindness, as a public health problem.El Salvador is the first country in Central America and the second in the Americas to achieve this milestone."I congratulate El Salvador on this remarkable achievement. It is a testament to the power of political commitment, strategic investment, and community engagement," said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus."El Salvador's success is a vital step towards our global target of eliminating trachoma worldwide by 2030 and a clear signal that a healthier, more equitable future is within reach," he added.El Salvador's Journey To Trachoma EliminationAlso read: US Appeals Court Revives Over 500 Tylenol Lawsuits Over Autism ClaimsBetween 2023 and 2026, El Salvador conducted targeted assessments in communities identified as at higher environmental and social risk. The surveys found no evidence of active trachoma transmission.As per the WHO, "no cases of active disease were detected in children, and no adults were found to have advanced trachoma capable of causing blindness". These findings confirmed that trachoma is no longer a public health problem in the country, the UN health agency said.El Salvador's achievement was supported by a coordinated approach that included:Strengthening primary healthcare servicesImproving water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)Expanding eye health services, including adult vision screeningCollaboration between government agencies, communities and international partnersThe country has also established trained health personnel, integrated surveillance systems and the capacity to detect and treat trichiasis—the advanced stage of trachoma in which eyelashes turn inward and can lead to blindness.What Is Trachoma?Trachoma is a bacterial eye infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis.  It can spread from person to person through contaminated fingers, fomites and flies that could come into contact with discharge from the eyes or nose of an infected person. Environmental risks like poor hygiene, overcrowded households, and inadequate access to water and sanitation facilities can also lead to trachoma.Repeated infections can scar the inner eyelid, causing the eyelashes to turn inward—a condition known as trichiasis. Without treatment, the eyelashes scratch the surface of the eye, potentially leading to irreversible blindness. Read More: Wegovy More Likely To Cause Rare Blindness Than Ozempic And Other Similar Drugs, Recent Study Finds Trachoma Still Persists In Parts Of The AmericasAlthough El Salvador has eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, the disease remains endemic in rural and remote areas of Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala and Peru.WHO recommends that countries maintaining elimination continue surveillance and ensure access to quality eye care services to prevent the disease from re-emerging.WHO Criteria For EliminationWHO defines elimination of trachoma as a public health problem based on three key criteria:Trichiasis prevalence of less than 0.2% among people aged 15 years and older.Active trachoma (trachomatous inflammation–follicular) prevalence of less than 5% among children aged 1–9 years in every previously endemic district.A functioning health system capable of identifying and managing new trichiasis cases.With this achievement, El Salvador joins 64 countries worldwide that have been validated by WHO for eliminating at least one neglected tropical disease. Seven of these countries are in the Americas.

el salvador becomes first country in central america to eliminate trachoma: who

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