El Salvador becomes first Central American nation to eliminate trachoma as public health threat

The World Health Organization has officially validated El Salvador as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. This determination concludes a rigorous, multi-year assessment process conducted between 2023 and 2026, during which targeted community screenings found no evidence of active transmission or advanced cases capable of causing blindness.

Trachoma, caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, is the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness. Repeated infections can lead to scarring of the inner eyelid, causing the eyelashes to turn inward and scratch the cornea. The disease is strongly associated with poverty and inequities in access to basic services, including water, sanitation, and hygiene, as well as healthcare.

El Salvador is the first country in Central America and the second in the Americas to achieve this status. It joins a global group of 64 countries recognised by the WHO for eliminating at least one neglected tropical disease. Seven of these nations are located in the Americas.

The validation followed a multisectoral strategy that included strengthened primary health care, improvements in water and sanitation infrastructure, and eye health services such as visual acuity screening. Assessments specifically looked for signs of the disease in children aged one to nine and advanced cases in adults. No signs of active transmission were detected in children, and no advanced cases of trichiasis were found in adults.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, congratulated El Salvador on the achievement, describing it as a testament to political commitment and strategic investment. He noted that the success is a vital step towards the global target of eliminating trachoma worldwide by 2030.

The effort was supported by the Pan American Health Organization through the Initiative for the Elimination of Trachoma in the Americas, in collaboration with the Government of Canada. El Salvador’s Minister of Health, Francisco Alabi, stated that the achievement was the result of sustained national efforts over three years, positioning the country in the region and improving the visual health of its population.

To maintain this status, El Salvador has established systems including trained health personnel, integrated surveillance mechanisms, and the capacity to detect and manage trichiasis cases within its national health system. The WHO recommends that countries achieving elimination maintain these surveillance systems to prevent re-emergence.

While El Salvador has eliminated the disease, trachoma remains a public health problem in rural and remote areas of Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, and Peru. Regional investigations are also ongoing in Bolivia, Ecuador, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, and Venezuela.