GNV News, February 27, 2026

The number of people worldwide at risk of trachoma infection has fallen below 100 million for the first time since statistics began. Trachoma is an eye disease caused by a microorganism called Chlamydia trachomatis and is the leading cause of blindness worldwide. It is transmitted through contact with hands or clothing and by flies, and tends to spread easily in tropical climates and in rural areas where poverty and lack of medical services are prevalent. It is one of 21 infectious diseases known as “neglected tropical diseases” (NTDs), which have not received sufficient countermeasures due to global neglect.

 In 2002, the population at risk of trachoma was estimated at 1.5 billion, but by November 2025 it had fallen to about 97 million, dropping below 100 million for the first time. One reason is the SAFE strategy promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the prevention and treatment of trachoma. Under the SAFE strategy, surgery for trachomatous trichiasis, the stage of trachoma that causes blindness, provision of antibiotics, and efforts to improve facial hygiene and the environment have been implemented.

 To date, 28 countries have been certified by WHO as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. Countries that have recently achieved elimination include Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and Libya. Among them, Libya eliminated trachoma in February 2026 and became the 28th country to be certified. Since 2017, Libya’s Ministry of Health has worked with WHO and others to make trachoma elimination a priority public health issue and implemented countermeasures. The elimination is noteworthy because it was achieved even as the country has faced prolonged political instability and humanitarian problems that have forced people to flee and strained medical services.

 Despite the decline, there are still about 100 million people at risk of trachoma. WHO staff have stated that more funding is needed to eliminate trachoma.

 Learn more about global health and medical issues → “Feature article: Global health and medical issues”

Learn more about Libyan politics → “Libya: Prolonged political confrontation”

Pre-operative examination before trachoma surgery (Photo: Pan American Health Organization PAHO / Flickr [CC BY-NC 2.0])