Egypt Declared Free of Trachoma, a Historic Win for Public Health
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Egypt has officially eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, marking a significant milestone in the country’s healthcare journey and for the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region. This achievement brings the total number of countries worldwide to have eliminated the disease to 27.
A Centuries-Old Scourge Vanquished
The announcement, made today by the WHO, represents the culmination of decades of dedicated effort to combat a disease that has plagued Egypt for over 3,000 years. “I congratulate Egypt for reaching this milestone and liberating its people from trachoma,” stated Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This demonstrates the effectiveness of sustained national leadership, strong surveillance and community engagement in ending a disease that has afflicted humanity since antiquity.”
The Global Burden of Trachoma
While Egypt’s success is cause for celebration, trachoma remains a significant public health challenge globally. Approximately 1.9 million people worldwide currently suffer from blindness or visual impairment as a result of the infection, and an estimated 103 million individuals living in endemic areas are at risk, according to data from April 2025. Blindness caused by trachoma is often irreversible, underscoring the importance of prevention and elimination efforts.
A Long Road to Elimination
Early public health interventions in Egypt began in the early 20th century, spearheaded by ophthalmologist Arthur Ferguson MacCallan, who established the nation’s first mobile and permanent eye hospitals. Despite these early efforts, trachoma continued to cause widespread blindness, affecting over half of all children in some Nile Delta communities by the 1980s.
A turning point came in 2002, when the Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt, in collaboration with the WHO and other partners, adopted the SAFE strategy – Surgery for trichiasis, Antibiotics to clear the causative organism, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvement.
Sustained Progress and Surveillance
Between 2015 and 2025, comprehensive mapping and surveillance across Egypt’s 27 governorates revealed a consistent decline in active trachoma among children aged 1–9 years. Crucially, the prevalence of blinding complications in adults also fell below WHO elimination thresholds nationwide. In 2024, Egypt further strengthened its surveillance system by integrating trachoma monitoring into its national electronic disease reporting system, enabling a swift response to any potential future outbreaks.
“Egypt’s elimination of trachoma as a public health problem underscores the nation’s sustained commitment to equitable healthcare delivery and the transformative impact of initiatives such as Haya Karima,” said Professor Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population. “This achievement is a collective triumph for Egypt’s health workers, communities, and partners who collaborated to eradicate this ancient disease.”
A Regional and Global Model
Egypt’s success builds on its track record of eliminating communicable diseases, including polio, measles, rubella, and malaria. It is the second neglected tropical disease (NTD) eliminated in the country, following the validation of lymphatic filariasis elimination in 2018. Globally, 58 countries have now eliminated at least one NTD, with nine located in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region.
Dr. Nima Abid, WHO Representative to Egypt, emphasized the broader implications of this achievement. “This milestone adds to Egypt’s strong track record…and serves as an inspiring example for other countries in the Region and beyond.”
Collaborative Effort Drives Success
Eliminating trachoma in Egypt was a collaborative undertaking, involving strong national leadership, coordinated action, and broad partnerships. The WHO provided crucial technical guidance, monitoring, and validation support, while financial and technical contributions came from organizations including the Haya Karima Foundation, the Eastern Mediterranean Region Trachoma Alliance, and Sightsavers, among others.
Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, lauded the collective effort. “Together, we have proven that with collaboration and persistence, elimination is achievable,” she stated. “Today, Egypt exemplifies what determination can accomplish.”
Understanding Trachoma
Trachoma is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and spreads through contact with infected eye discharges via hands, clothing, flies, and contaminated surfaces. Repeated infections can lead to scarring of the eyelid, causing eyelashes to turn inward and scratch the cornea, resulting in painful blindness. The disease disproportionately affects vulnerable communities with limited access to clean water and sanitation. The WHO launched the WHO Alliance for the Global Elimination of Trachoma by 2020 (GET2020) in 1998 to accelerate elimination efforts worldwide.
