Chile Verified As Leprosy Free After Decades Of Public Health Efforts

The World Health Organization (WHO), together pinch nan Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), congratulates Chile for becoming nan first state successful nan Americas – and nan 2nd globally – to beryllium officially verified arsenic having eliminated leprosy disease.

Leprosy (Hansen disease) was historically recorded successful Chile astatine nan extremity of nan 19th period connected Rapa Nui (Easter Island). The illness was constricted successful mainland Chile, pinch sporadic introductions, contained done isolation and curen measures successful nan Island, wherever nan past secondary cases were managed by nan precocious 1990s.

Since then, Chile has not reported immoderate locally acquired lawsuit of leprosy for much than 30 years, pinch nan past locally acquired lawsuit detected successful 1993. However, nan illness was ne'er removed from nan country's nationalist wellness agenda; it has remained a notifiable condition, monitored done mandatory reporting, integrated surveillance, and continuous objective readiness crossed nan wellness system.

This landmark nationalist wellness accomplishment is simply a powerful testament to what leadership, science, and solidarity tin accomplish. Chile's elimination of leprosy sends a clear connection to nan world: pinch sustained commitment, inclusive wellness services, integrated nationalist wellness strategies, early discovery and cosmopolitan entree to care, we tin consign ancient diseases to history."

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General

The verification recognizes much than 3 decades of sustained nationalist wellness action, robust surveillance, semipermanent governmental commitment, and a wellness strategy that has remained vigilant moreover successful nan absence of section transmission.

"Chile's accomplishment demonstrates that eliminating leprosy is achievable and requires building beardown systems that tin detect, respond to, and supply broad attraction for group affected by nan disease, including those surviving pinch chronic disabilities," said PAHO Director Dr Jarbas Barbosa. "Being nan first state successful nan Americas to beryllium confirmed arsenic eliminating leprosy sends a powerful connection to nan Region – that diseases powerfully linked to groups surviving successful susceptible conditions tin beryllium eliminated, contributing to interrupt nan vicious circle betwixt illness and poverty."

At nan petition of Chile's Ministry of Health, PAHO and WHO convened an independent master sheet successful 2025 to measure whether elimination had been achieved and could beryllium sustained complete time. The sheet conducted a thorough assessment, reviewing epidemiological data, surveillance mechanisms, lawsuit guidance protocols, and sustainability plans. Its findings confirmed nan absence of section transmission and validated Chile's capacity to observe and respond to early cases occurring among nan non-autochthonous population.

"This is very bully news and a root of awesome pridefulness for our country. Chile has received verification of nan elimination of leprosy disease, becoming nan first state successful nan Americas and nan 2nd globally to execute this recognition," said Ximena Aguilera, Chile's Minister of Health. "This milestone reflects decades of sustained nationalist wellness efforts, including prevention strategies, early diagnosis, effective treatment, continuous follow-up, and nan committedness of wellness teams crossed nan country. It besides reaffirms our work to support progressive surveillance and guarantee respectful, stigma-free attraction for all."

Sustained training, surveillance and holistic attraction successful a low-incidence setting

Between 2012 and 2023, Chile reported 47 cases nationwide, nary of which were locally acquired.

Chile's integrated exemplary ensures early discovery and broad care: superior attraction centers service arsenic nan introduction constituent for suspected cases, pinch timely referrals to specialized dermatology services for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. Clinicians person training aligned pinch WHO's Towards zero leprosy strategy. The strategy prioritizes early intervention, disablement prevention, and holistic care, including physiotherapy and rehabilitation services, ensuring that anyone affected by leprosy receives continuous support for some acute and semipermanent wellness needs to beforehand afloat betterment and societal inclusion.

A milestone for nan Region of nan Americas

Chile's accomplishment paves nan measurement for different nations, illustrating nan effect of governmental will, cross-sector collaboration, and adaptive readying successful low-incidence settings.

Since 1995, PAHO, successful coordination pinch WHO, has provided multidrug therapy (MDT) free of complaint to countries successful nan Americas, including Chile. This uninterrupted entree to treatment, mixed pinch nationalist proviso systems, has been basal to curing patients, preventing disability, and interrupting transmission.

PAHO has besides supported Chile successful aligning surveillance pinch world standards, strengthening laboratory capacity, and maintaining objective expertise successful a low-incidence context, wherever galore wellness professionals whitethorn ne'er brushwood a lawsuit during their careers.

Ensuring entree and sum for everyone

Chile's elimination of leprosy has been achieved wrong a broader ineligible and societal model that protects quality rights, promotes inclusion, and prevents discrimination. National authorities guarantees adjacent entree to wellness care, societal protection, and disablement services, ensuring that group affected by leprosy person attraction without stigma aliases exclusion.

Chile's mixed public–private wellness system, pinch beardown regulatory oversight, further strengthens equitable access, including for migrants and different susceptible populations.

Sustaining elimination

Aligned pinch WHO's Towards zero leprosy strategy and PAHO's Disease Elimination Initiative, Chile's acquisition demonstrates that elimination is not defined solely by nan absence of disease, but by a sustained wellness strategy tin of detecting, responding to, and providing holistic attraction whenever a lawsuit appears.

Moving into nan post-elimination phase, Chile is encouraged to proceed reporting to WHO, support delicate surveillance, and guarantee that objective expertise is retained for early sporadic cases arsenic good arsenic immoderate cases acquired extracurricular nan country. The verification sheet besides recommended formally designating a referral centre and leveraging WHO Academy's online training for wellness workers and staff, strengthening semipermanent capacity and preparedness.