Chile Becomes First Country in the Americas to Eliminate Leprosy

Chile has achieved a historic milestone in global public health by becoming the first country in the Americas to be officially verified by the World Health Organization for the elimination of leprosy. The South American nation joins Jordan as only the second country in the world to receive this prestigious verification, reflecting over three decades of sustained public health vigilance.

The last locally acquired case of leprosy in Chile was detected in 1993 — more than 30 years ago. Since then, the country has maintained rigorous surveillance and reporting systems, keeping leprosy as a notifiable condition with mandatory reporting. This unwavering commitment to monitoring ensured that even as cases disappeared, the capacity to detect and respond to any new occurrence remained intact.

“The South American nation joins Jordan as only the second country in the world to receive this prestigious verification, reflecting over three decades of sustained public health vigilance.”

Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Despite being curable with multidrug therapy — which the Pan American Health Organization has provided free to countries in the Americas since 1995 — the disease still affects more than 200,000 people worldwide each year, predominantly in tropical regions.

Chile's success story is built on a comprehensive approach that combined early detection, accessible treatment, community education, and perhaps most importantly, the systematic dismantling of the deep social stigma that has historically surrounded leprosy. By integrating leprosy surveillance into its broader public health infrastructure rather than treating it as a separate, stigmatized condition, Chile created a more effective and humane system.

The WHO verification process is rigorous and demands that a country demonstrate not just the absence of cases but also the presence of robust systems capable of detecting any future occurrence. Chile satisfied these requirements by presenting decades of consistent epidemiological data and demonstrating the continued readiness of its healthcare system.

This achievement serves as both a celebration and an inspiration for the broader Americas region, where leprosy remains endemic in several countries. Chile's experience provides a proven roadmap for other nations pursuing elimination, demonstrating that it is achievable through sustained political commitment, investment in public health infrastructure, and the will to confront stigma head-on.