Health and Me

Rachel V Thomas

WHO Declares Australia Free Of Trachoma: All About The Irreversible Blindness

Australia has become the 30th country in the world to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem, announced the World Health Organization (WHO).

Trachoma is the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness, which is preventable but cannot be reversed.

According to the WHO, Australia is among a growing number of countries that have successfully eliminated trachoma, contributing to global progress towards the targets set out in the WHO road map for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) 2021–2030.

“WHO congratulates Australia on this important achievement,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

“This success reflects sustained commitment, strong partnerships, and a focus on reaching populations most affected by health inequities. It brings us closer to a world free from the suffering caused by trachoma," he added.

<h2>How Australia Eliminated Trachoma</h2>

Australia has achieved the milestone after decades of targeted public health action, particularly in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, where trachoma persisted despite its earlier disappearance from the rest of the country.

The country established the National Trachoma Management Program in 2006 to boost efforts to fight the disease.

The program implemented the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy: 

<ul><li>Surgery for trichiasis,</li><li>Antibiotics to treat infection, </li><li>Promotion of facial cleanliness, </li><li>Environmental improvement. </li></ul>

<ul><li>Regular screening of all communities classified as at-risk of trachoma</li><li>Targeted treatment based on community-level data rather than mass drug administration,</li><li>Prevention activities, including improvements in housing, water, sanitation, and hygiene,</li><li>Strong integration with environmental health programs.</li></ul>

“Elimination of trachoma is a win for the eye health of communities across Australia, particularly those whose lives have been impacted by a disease that is entirely preventable,” said Mark Butler, Minister for Health and Ageing, Australia. 

In addition to trachoma, Australia has several endemic NTDs, including Buruli ulcer, leprosy, and scabies. 

Validation of elimination of trachoma as a public health problem marks the first time that WHO has confirmed the elimination of an NTD in Australia, which becomes the 63rd country globally and 16th in the Western Pacific Region to have eliminated at least one NTD.

Trachoma is caused by the bacterium <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/chlamydia">Chlamydia</a> trachomatis.

It spreads through close contact with infected individuals, contaminated surfaces, and flies that carry eye and nose discharge. 

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

Repeated infections can lead to scarring of the eyelids, turning eyelashes inward, and ultimately causing blindness if untreated.

As per the WHO, trachoma is responsible for the blindness or visual impairment of about 1.9 million people.

Blindness from trachoma is difficult to reverse.

In areas where trachoma is endemic, active (inflammatory) trachoma is common among preschool-aged children, with the proportion of such children affected sometimes being as high as 90 per cent infection becomes less frequent and shorter in duration with increasing age. 

Infection is usually acquired when living in close proximity to others with active disease, and the family is the main setting for transmission.

An individual’s immune system can clear a single episode of infection, but in endemic communities, re-acquisition of the organism occurs frequently.

Trachoma is one of 21 diseases and disease groups that are regarded by the WHO as NTDs. 

Together, NTDs affect more than 1 billion people worldwide, primarily in underserved populations with limited access to essential services such as clean water, sanitation, and health care.

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Australia has become the 30th country in the world to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem, announced the World Health Organization (WHO).Trachoma is the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness, which is preventable but cannot be reversed.According to the WHO, Australia is among a growing number of countries that have successfully eliminated trachoma, contributing to global progress towards the targets set out in the WHO road map for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) 2021–2030.“WHO congratulates Australia on this important achievement,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This success reflects sustained commitment, strong partnerships, and a focus on reaching populations most affected by health inequities. It brings us closer to a world free from the suffering caused by trachoma," he added.How Australia Eliminated TrachomaAustralia has achieved the milestone after decades of targeted public health action, particularly in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, where trachoma persisted despite its earlier disappearance from the rest of the country.The country established the National Trachoma Management Program in 2006 to boost efforts to fight the disease.The program implemented the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy: Surgery for trichiasis,Antibiotics to treat infection, Promotion of facial cleanliness, Environmental improvement. Other measures undertaken includeRegular screening of all communities classified as at-risk of trachomaTargeted treatment based on community-level data rather than mass drug administration,Prevention activities, including improvements in housing, water, sanitation, and hygiene,Strong integration with environmental health programs.“Elimination of trachoma is a win for the eye health of communities across Australia, particularly those whose lives have been impacted by a disease that is entirely preventable,” said Mark Butler, Minister for Health and Ageing, Australia. In addition to trachoma, Australia has several endemic NTDs, including Buruli ulcer, leprosy, and scabies. Validation of elimination of trachoma as a public health problem marks the first time that WHO has confirmed the elimination of an NTD in Australia, which becomes the 63rd country globally and 16th in the Western Pacific Region to have eliminated at least one NTD.What is Trachoma?Trachoma is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis.It spreads through close contact with infected individuals, contaminated surfaces, and flies that carry eye and nose discharge. Environmental risks like poor hygiene, overcrowded households, and inadequate access to water and sanitation facilities can also lead to trachoma.Repeated infections can lead to scarring of the eyelids, turning eyelashes inward, and ultimately causing blindness if untreated.As per the WHO, trachoma is responsible for the blindness or visual impairment of about 1.9 million people.Blindness from trachoma is difficult to reverse.In areas where trachoma is endemic, active (inflammatory) trachoma is common among preschool-aged children, with the proportion of such children affected sometimes being as high as 90 per cent infection becomes less frequent and shorter in duration with increasing age. Infection is usually acquired when living in close proximity to others with active disease, and the family is the main setting for transmission.An individual’s immune system can clear a single episode of infection, but in endemic communities, re-acquisition of the organism occurs frequently.Trachoma is one of 21 diseases and disease groups that are regarded by the WHO as NTDs. Together, NTDs affect more than 1 billion people worldwide, primarily in underserved populations with limited access to essential services such as clean water, sanitation, and health care.