Historic Victory Pushes an Ancient Disease Closer to Global Eradication

Chile has become the first country in the Americas to eliminate leprosy as a public health problem, marking more than three decades without locally transmitted cases.

“This landmark public health achievement is a powerful testament to what leadership, science, and solidarity can accomplish,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization.

Leprosy, a disease that once caused widespread disability and stigma, has not been locally transmitted in Chile since 1993. Between 2012 and 2023, only 47 cases were reported nationwide, all imported and successfully treated. Continuous surveillance, early diagnosis, universal access to multidrug therapy and strong primary healthcare systems helped sustain elimination, demonstrating how long-term vigilance can consign ancient diseases to history.