WHO confirms trachoma elimination in Burundi, Tunisia

The World Health Organization’s confirmation that Tunisia has eliminated trachoma as a public-health problem came on May 14, 2026, less than a year after WHO validated Burundi for the same milestone on July 11, 2025. (who.int) That pairing matters because trachoma is the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness, and WHO validation is not a broad political declaration but a technical determination that a country has pushed disease indicators below defined thresholds and can sustain them. (cbmuk.org.uk) In Burundi, WHO said the country became the eighth in the African Region and the 24th globally to eliminate trachoma as a public-health problem. In Tunisia, WHO said the country’s validation followed decades of sustained effort and made it another addition to the list of countries that have reached the target. (who.int) ### What exactly did WHO certify? WHO defines elimination of trachoma as a public-health problem using two main epidemiological benchmarks. (who.int) The first is a prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis “unknown to the health system” of less than 0.2% in adults aged 15 and older, and the second is a prevalence of trachomatous inflammation—follicular of less than 5% in children aged 1 to 9, sustained for at least two years in every formerly endemic district. (who.int) WHO’s validation also depends on countries showing they can identify and manage remaining cases. Tunisia’s release said the country has an ongoing system for case management and training of health professionals, while Burundi’s release described the milestone as the result of years of nationally organized control work. (who.int) ### How did Burundi get there? Burundi’s trachoma problem was mapped through rapid assessments and baseline prevalence surveys conducted from 2007 to 2010, WHO and partner summaries said. Those surveys found 12 districts with trachomatous inflammation—follicular prevalence above 5% in children ages 1 to 9, triggering rollout of the WHO-endorsed SAFE strategy. (who.int) CBM and WHO-linked reports said Burundi’s program reached more than 2.5 million people across those 12 districts. The SAFE strategy combines surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness and environmental improvement, a package designed to treat active disease, prevent blindness and reduce transmission. WHO said Burundi’s validation made trachoma the first neglected tropical disease eliminated in the country. (who.int) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at the time that eliminating trachoma required “sustained effort and dedication.” ### Why was Tunisia’s validation notable? Tunisia’s May 14 validation capped what WHO described as decades of national effort. WHO said trachoma had been endemic in the early to mid-20th century and affected at least half the population, especially in southern regions. (who.int) Tedros said Tunisia’s achievement showed what “long-term political commitment, strong primary health care and teamwork can do.” WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Director Hanan Balkhy said the result reflected sustained national commitment over many years. (cbmuk.org.uk) ### What happens after elimination? WHO’s country notices make clear that validation does not mean the disease disappears overnight. (who.int) Countries must keep surveillance, case finding and treatment systems in place so that remaining cases are detected and any resurgence is contained. WHO’s releases for Tunisia and Burundi remain the formal record of the decisions, with the Tunisia validation dated May 14, 2026, and Burundi’s dated July 11, 2025. (who.int)