El Salvador Eliminates Trachoma as a Public Health Threat
El Salvador Eliminates Trachoma as a Public Health Threat
Updated at: July 14, 2026 at 09:45 AM
On July 13, 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially recognized El Salvador for eliminating trachoma as a public health threat.
This historic achievement makes El Salvador the first Central American nation, and only the second in the Americas, to reach this goal.
It is notorious for being the world's leading infectious cause of blindness.
Without treatment, repeated infections can cause eyelashes to turn inward, leading to permanent corneal damage.
El Salvador’s success was the result of a dedicated three-year effort from 2023 to 2026.
By integrating eye health services into primary care, improving water and sanitation infrastructure, and conducting rigorous health surveys in remote areas, officials were able to stop active transmission.
The WHO remains committed to the global target of eliminating trachoma worldwide by 2030 through sustained surveillance and high-quality eye care.
