For the first time since global records began, the number of people requiring interventions against trachoma, the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness, has fallen below 100 million. From an estimated 1.5 billion people at risk in 2002, the figure dropped to 97.1 million as of November 2025, marking a 94% reduction. In 2011, 314 million people were still estimated to need interventions, highlighting the significant progress achieved over recent decades.
This milestone reflects sustained efforts by national health ministries, local communities, and international partners implementing the World Health Organization-endorsed SAFE strategy, which includes Surgery to treat trachomatous trichiasis, Antibiotics to clear infection, and Facial cleanliness and Environmental improvement to reduce transmission and sustain progress. Dr Daniel Ngamije Madandi, Director of the Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases Department at WHO, emphasized that the achievement demonstrates the effectiveness and adaptability of the SAFE strategy across trachoma-endemic regions.
Following the recent validation of Egypt and Fiji as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, the total number of countries recognized by WHO now stands at 27, with at least one country in every trachoma-endemic WHO region. Global progress has been supported by NGOs, academic institutions, donors, and initiatives like the International Coalition for Trachoma Control, alongside the donation of more than 1.1 billion doses of azithromycin by Pfizer through the International Trachoma Initiative. These collaborations have strengthened community health systems and enabled efficient delivery of medicines.
Michaela Kelly, Chair of the International Coalition for Trachoma Control, highlighted that data and partnerships have been key to scaling up the SAFE strategy, driving the 94% reduction in people at risk since 2002. However, nearly 100 million people remain at risk, and approximately US$300 million is still needed to fund surgery, antibiotics, surveys, and priority research to reach the 2030 elimination target.
Major initiatives such as the Global Trachoma Mapping Project (2012–2016) and Tropical Data have been critical in reducing prevalence and accurately tracking progress. The GTMP collected data from 2.6 million people across 29 countries using smartphones, while Tropical Data has conducted over 4,000 surveys covering more than 13.1 million people. These efforts have enabled interventions to be targeted effectively, with one person examined for trachoma every 25 seconds on average since 2012.
PJ Hooper, Director of the International Trachoma Initiative, noted that the milestone represents the tireless work of health ministries, local communities, and partners implementing the SAFE strategy. The elimination efforts are aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 3.3, which calls for ending neglected tropical diseases, as well as the NTD road map 2021–2030 targeting global trachoma elimination by 2030.
The 27 countries validated by WHO as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem include Benin, Burundi, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, India, Iran, Iraq, Laos, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Togo, Vanuatu, and Viet Nam.
Trachoma, caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, spreads through contact with infected eye secretions via hands, clothing, surfaces, and flies. Repeated infections cause scarring of the inner eyelid, leading to trachomatous trichiasis and potential blindness. Since 1996, WHO has coordinated the Alliance for the Global Elimination of Trachoma to support endemic countries and accelerate progress toward elimination. Neglected tropical diseases remain a threat to around 1 billion people globally, but 58 countries have already eliminated at least one NTD, demonstrating progress toward WHO’s goal of 100 countries reaching elimination by 2030.
