Chile Becomes First In Americas To Eliminate Leprosy: WHO

In a major global public health milestone, Chile has become the first country in the Americas to receive official verification from the World Health Organization for eliminating Leprosy.

The certification recognises decades of strong public health efforts, effective surveillance, and sustained commitment to controlling the infection.

According to the Pan American Health Organization, Chile has reported no locally acquired cases of Leprosy for over 30 years, with the last confirmed local transmission recorded in 1993.

Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, occurs when the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae infects the skin, nerves, eyes, and respiratory mucosa.

Although curable, untreated cases can lead to nerve damage, disability, and social stigma.

Chile is only the second country to receive verification from the World Health Organisation for eliminating the disease, after Jordan achieved the milestone in 2024.

Public health experts say strong political commitment, universal access to treatment, and effective monitoring systems can eliminate diseases that have affected humanity for centuries.

The World Health Organisation granted verification after an independent panel reviewed epidemiological data, surveillance systems, treatment protocols, and long-term prevention strategies.

Experts confirmed that Chile has successfully interrupted local transmission and can detect and manage imported cases.

Although no local infections have appeared for decades, Chile continued to classify Leprosy as a notifiable disease, requiring healthcare providers to report suspected cases for rapid monitoring.

Leprosy progresses slowly, with symptoms such as skin lesions, loss of sensation, nerve damage, and eye complications.

Doctors treat it with multidrug therapy using antibiotics like Rifampicin, Dapsone, and Clofazimine.

Despite global progress, more than 1,70,000 new cases were reported worldwide in 2024. Through its Global Leprosy Strategy 2021–2030, the WHO aims to interrupt transmission, reduce disability, and eliminate stigma associated with the disease.

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