The number of countries validated as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem has increased from 18 in 2024 to 25 in 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported in its Weekly Epidemiological Record.The trachoma progress update presents data on the implementation of the WHO-endorsed SAFE strategy (surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness, environmental improvement) in trachoma-endemic countries in 2024. The record shows that SAFE strategy implementation has contributed to sustained progress across the global trachoma program, with the number of countries known to require interventions falling from 39 in 2024 to 32 in 2025. The number of people known to require interventions against trachoma has fallen from 103.2 million in 2024 to 102.6 million in 2025. The record reveals that 87,349 people were managed for trachomatous trichiasis (TT) in 2024. Of the 35 countries that reported TT surgery data in 2024, 34 reported gender-disaggregated data, which includes 98% of individuals operated on for TT worldwide; of these, 70% were female. Additionally, the record shows that 46.7 million doses of antibiotics were distributed to 44.4 million people for the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem. Gender-disaggregated data were available from 17 countries, representing more than 99.9% of people treated with antibiotics for trachoma worldwide. This showed that 52% of individuals who received antibiotics were female. The presentation of gender disaggregated data is important to the global trachoma program because women are 1.8 times more likely to require TT management than men and research suggests that women face increased barriers to interventions and are more likely to decline intervention than men. The findings in the WER could be interpreted that gender equity is being broadly achieved across the global trachoma program. It is really encouraging to see a steady increase in the number of countries validated as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. As the funding landscape for global health changes, we must remind donors of the significant progress being made towards trachoma elimination, including a 93% reduction in the number of people at risk over the last 23 years and the real opportunity we have to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem by 2030. Michaela Kelly, Chair, ICTC It is estimated that between US $268-334 million is needed to support surgeries, antibiotic mass drug administration, surveys and research through to 2030 – the year trachoma is targeted for global elimination as a public health problem. This investment is estimated to leverage more than US $2.2 billion in medicines donated by Pfizer Inc, through the International Trachoma Initiative, while simultaneously strengthening health systems and contributing to targets for universal health coverage.As of April 2025, Ethiopia continued to account for the world’s largest burden of trachoma, with 66 million people living in trachoma-endemic areas, representing 64% of the global burden.  However, in 2024, it was estimated that 72% of global TT surgeries and 73% of global antibiotic treatments distributed were in Ethiopia.The 25 countries validated by WHO to date as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem are: Benin, Burundi, Cambodia, China, Gambia, Ghana, India, Iraq, Islamic Republic of Iran, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Togo, Vanuatu and Viet Nam.  An additional six countries have reported achieving the prevalence targets for trachoma elimination: Botswana, Fiji, Guinea-Bissau, Libya, Namibia,, and Tunisia.

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