Egypt becomes the 27th country globally to eliminate trachoma
Egypt has successfully eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, marking a historic public health victory that has been validated by the World Health Organization (WHO). The country becomes the seventh in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region and the 27th globally to achieve this milestone. Trachoma is the second neglected tropical disease (NTD) eliminated in Egypt, following lymphatic filariasis validation in 2018.
Key Highlights:
- SAFE Strategy Success: Trachoma, a bacterial infection and one of the world’s leading infectious causes of blindness, has afflicted Egyptian communities for millennia. Since 2002, Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population, in partnership with WHO and international collaborators, implemented the WHO-endorsed SAFE strategy – Surgery for trichiasis, Antibiotics to clear infection, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvement.
- Nationwide Achievement: Between 2015 and 2025, extensive mapping and surveillance across all 27 governorates drove steady reductions in active trachoma prevalence among children and eliminated blinding complications in adults, with both indicators now below WHO elimination thresholds.
- Strengthened Monitoring: In 2024, Egypt integrated trachoma surveillance into its national electronic disease reporting system, ensuring long-term monitoring and rapid response capabilities.
- Strong Partnerships: The achievement was made possible through collaboration with partners including the Haya Karima Foundation, Eastern Mediterranean Region Trachoma Alliance, International Trachoma Initiative, Sightsavers, CBM, and the Global Trachoma Mapping Project.
This achievement underscores Egypt’s sustained efforts and commitment to equitable healthcare and offers a powerful example for the other nations pursuing NTD elimination.
Globally, trachoma remains a public health problem in 30 countries and is responsible for blindness or visual impairment in approximately 1.9 million people, with 103 million people living in trachoma-endemic areas at risk of trachoma blindness as of April 2025.
Reference: World Health Organization. (2025, November 12). Egypt becomes the seventh country in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem. Retrieved January 23, 2026, from https://www.who.int/news/item/12-11-2025-egypt-becomes-the-seventh-country-in-the-eastern-mediterranean-region-to-eliminate-trachoma-as-a-public-health-problem
