Myanmar validated for elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in 2020
A study by Wynn et al. assessed trachoma prevalence and household access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) across 14 formerly endemic townships in Myanmar, providing evidence that contributed to WHO validation of elimination in 2020.
Key Findings:
- The 2019 surveys examined 5,901 children aged 1–9 years and 31,097 people aged ≥15 years across 12,594 households in 14 townships spanning three regions of Myanmar.
- The prevalence of trachomatous inflammation–follicular among children aged 1–9 years was 0.1% or lower in every one of the 14 townships, while the prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis unknown to the health system among adults aged ≥15 years was from 0% to 0.15% — both far below the WHO elimination thresholds of 5% and 0.2%.
- Household access to WASH services varied across the 14 evaluation units, with 58–99% having an improved drinking water source, 90–100% having a water source in the yard or within 1km, and 50–94% having an improved sanitation facility.
- Myanmar’s sustained progress was supported by integrating trachoma surveillance and management into basic eye health services, alongside school-based health education and continued WASH interventions to help prevent re-emergence.
Reference: Wynn MMM, Win Y, Lin Y, et al. Surveys to substantiate elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Int Health. 2025;17(6):953-959. doi:10.1093/inthealth/ihaf038
