El Salvador eliminates a leading infectious cause of blindness

El Salvador has become the first country in Central America to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem, following validation by the World Health Organization.

Trachoma is the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness. Repeated infections can scar the inside of the eyelid, causing eyelashes to turn inward and damage the eye. The disease is closely linked to poverty and limited access to clean water, sanitation and healthcare.

Between 2023 and 2026, El Salvador assessed communities considered most at risk. Investigators found no evidence of active transmission in children and no advanced cases capable of causing blindness in adults. The country also strengthened primary healthcare, eye screening, sanitation services, staff training and surveillance systems.

This matters because eliminating a neglected tropical disease requires more than treating individual cases. It means building services that reach vulnerable communities and can detect future risks. El Salvador’s progress shows how public investment, community involvement and reliable evidence can prevent avoidable blindness and improve health equality.