Australia becomes the 30th country to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem

The World Health Organization has validated Australia for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem, making it the 30th country to reach the milestone.

WHO said the achievement reflects decades of screening, treatment and prevention efforts, including work led with remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The organization said trachoma is the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the milestone reflects sustained commitment, strong partnerships and a focus on the communities most affected by health inequities. He repeated the announcement during the WHO media briefing on April 29.

Australia’s health department has long monitored and reported trachoma in at-risk communities, and WHO’s validation marks a significant public health achievement for the country. The milestone does not mean eye health work is over, but it does show that trachoma has been brought under control as a national public health problem.