The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced that Egypt has successfully eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, marking a historic public health milestone for the country and WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region (WHO EMR). It is the seventh country in WHO EMR to achieve this milestone. The validation of Egypt’s achievement brings the total number of countries that have eliminated trachoma as a public health problem worldwide to 27.

“I congratulate Egypt for reaching this milestone and liberating its people from trachoma,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.  “This demonstrates the effectiveness of sustained national leadership, strong surveillance and community engagement in ending a disease that has afflicted humanity since antiquity.”