The World Health Organization has confirmed that India and Pakistan are free of trachoma, bringing the world closer to eliminating a major infectious cause of sight loss. Trachoma is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and spreads through contact with eye, nose or throat secretions and via flies that breed on animal dung, human faeces and food scraps. Repeated untreated infections can cause intense pain and irreversible blindness, which is why public health action has focused on prevention and treatment.
Under WHO’s 2021–2030 road map for neglected tropical diseases, the global target is to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem by 2030. India, with 1.45 billion people, and Pakistan, with around 250 million inhabitants, are now the 20th and 19th countries respectively to be declared free of trachoma. Roderico H. Ofrin credited India’s success to implementation of SAFE, including surgeries, drug administration by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and intensive water and sanitation programmes. Munazza Gillani of Sightsavers praised the resilience of many individuals and organisations but warned that trachoma can return unless efforts and awareness are sustained.
WHO estimates that 1.9 million people have partly or fully lost their sight to trachoma, while the number at risk fell from 1.5 billion in 2002 to 103 million in 2024. In 2023, WHO reported that 13,746 people received surgical treatment for trachomatous trichiasis and 32.9 people were treated with antibiotics; mass distribution of the antibiotic azithromycin is donated through the International Trachoma Initiative.
Trachoma remains present in 39 countries, with Africa most affected. Caleb Mpyet of Sightsavers emphasised that infectious diseases do not respect borders and pointed to cross-border coordination, such as Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania synchronising campaigns. India now has a surveillance plan to sustain elimination and continue community awareness and services.
- Surgery
- Antibiotics
- Facial cleanliness
- Environmental change
Difficult words
- trachoma — Contagious eye infection that can cause blindness
- bacterium — Single-celled organism that can cause disease
- irreversible — Impossible to change back to previous state
- sanitation — Systems for clean water and waste removal
- surveillance — Ongoing monitoring of health or disease cases
- eliminate — Completely remove a disease from a placeeliminating
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Discussion questions
- What steps should India and Pakistan continue to take to stop trachoma from returning, and why are those steps important?
- How can cross-border coordination, like the example of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, help control infectious diseases?
- What practical challenges might organisations face when carrying out mass antibiotic distribution or surgical campaigns against trachoma?
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