Elimination of Trachoma

Source: WHO

Context: India has officially received the WHO Certificate of Elimination of Trachoma as a Public Health Problem at the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva.

• India is now the third country in WHO South-East Asia Region (after Nepal and Myanmar) to eliminate trachoma.

About Elimination of Trachoma:

• What is Trachoma?

• Definition: A contagious bacterial eye disease caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. Transmission: Spread via direct contact (hands, clothes, bedding) and vectors like flies carrying discharge from infected eyes/nose. Reservoir: Children are the main source of transmission in endemic communities.

• Definition: A contagious bacterial eye disease caused by Chlamydia trachomatis.

• Transmission: Spread via direct contact (hands, clothes, bedding) and vectors like flies carrying discharge from infected eyes/nose.

• Reservoir: Children are the main source of transmission in endemic communities.

• Global and Indian Data:

• Global burden: Endemic in 38 countries. Affects 1.9 million people with visual impairment or blindness. In 2023, 130,746 surgeries and 32.9 million antibiotic treatments were conducted globally. Recently Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Mauritania has been validated by the WHO for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem. India: Active surveillance through NPCBVI since 2019. National Trichiasis Survey conducted in 200 districts (2021–24). Declared trachoma-free in October 2023, certified in May 2025.

• Global burden: Endemic in 38 countries. Affects 1.9 million people with visual impairment or blindness. In 2023, 130,746 surgeries and 32.9 million antibiotic treatments were conducted globally. Recently Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Mauritania has been validated by the WHO for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem.

• Endemic in 38 countries.

• Affects 1.9 million people with visual impairment or blindness.

• In 2023, 130,746 surgeries and 32.9 million antibiotic treatments were conducted globally.

• Recently Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Mauritania has been validated by the WHO for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem.

• India: Active surveillance through NPCBVI since 2019. National Trichiasis Survey conducted in 200 districts (2021–24). Declared trachoma-free in October 2023, certified in May 2025.

• Active surveillance through NPCBVI since 2019.

• National Trichiasis Survey conducted in 200 districts (2021–24).

• Declared trachoma-free in October 2023, certified in May 2025.

• Symptoms and Impact:

• Early: Red eyes, discharge, eye pain, photophobia. Advanced: Trachomatous trichiasis (inward eyelashes scraping cornea) leads corneal opacity which in turn lead to irreversible blindness. Women are 4 times more likely to be affected due to frequent exposure from caregiving roles.

• Early: Red eyes, discharge, eye pain, photophobia.

• Advanced: Trachomatous trichiasis (inward eyelashes scraping cornea) leads corneal opacity which in turn lead to irreversible blindness. Women are 4 times more likely to be affected due to frequent exposure from caregiving roles.

• Women are 4 times more likely to be affected due to frequent exposure from caregiving roles.

• Transmission and Risk Factors: Close contact in crowded homes: Living in close quarters increases the likelihood of direct transmission of eye and nasal discharges. Poor hygiene, lack of water and sanitation: Unclean environments support bacterial survival and spread due to infrequent face washing and poor waste disposal. Spread mainly among preschool-aged children in endemic zones: Young children are frequent carriers due to repeated infections and close interactions. Flies act as vectors in unsanitary settings: Eye-seeking flies transfer the bacteria from infected discharges to others in unhygienic environments.

• Close contact in crowded homes: Living in close quarters increases the likelihood of direct transmission of eye and nasal discharges.

• Poor hygiene, lack of water and sanitation: Unclean environments support bacterial survival and spread due to infrequent face washing and poor waste disposal.

• Spread mainly among preschool-aged children in endemic zones: Young children are frequent carriers due to repeated infections and close interactions.

• Flies act as vectors in unsanitary settings: Eye-seeking flies transfer the bacteria from infected discharges to others in unhygienic environments.

• Distribution:

• Endemic in Africa, South Asia, parts of Latin America, Australia, and the Middle East. 21 countries validated by WHO as having eliminated it, including India, China, Nepal, Pakistan, Iran, Morocco, and Vietnam.

• Endemic in Africa, South Asia, parts of Latin America, Australia, and the Middle East.

• 21 countries validated by WHO as having eliminated it, including India, China, Nepal, Pakistan, Iran, Morocco, and Vietnam.