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News
Trachoma-free zone: WHO has officially validated Timor-Leste's elimination of trachoma as a public health problem — making the entire WHO South-East Asia Region trachoma-free for the first time. Trachoma, caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, is the world's leading infectious cause of blindness. The milestone brings the world closer to the global goal of eliminating trachoma worldwide by 2030.
Trachoma-free zone: WHO clears entire South-East Asia region
The World Health Organization has officially validated Timor-Leste's elimination of trachoma as a public health problem — a landmark achievement that makes the entire WHO South-East Asia Region trachoma-free. Trachoma, caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, is the world's leading infectious cause of blindness and is closely tied to poverty and limited access to clean water, sanitation, and healthcare.
The validation followed a rigorous, multi-year process. Investigations between 2015 and 2017 found no trachoma in children on Atauro Island or in eye clinics nationwide. A 2025 survey of nearly 5,000 children across all 13 municipalities confirmed no evidence of active transmission. Timor-Leste joins El Salvador — validated in July 2026 — as part of a growing list of countries reaching this milestone ahead of the 2030 global target.
By the Numbers
Why it matters: This validation signals that coordinated national health systems, integrated surveillance, and community engagement can defeat preventable blindness — even in resource-limited settings. It also reinforces momentum toward WHO's 2030 global trachoma elimination target.
