Chile Makes History as First Country in the Americas Verified by WHO for Eliminating Leprosy

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) have officially recognized Chile as the first nation in the Americas—and only the second worldwide—to eliminate leprosy disease.

Leprosy, also called Hansen disease, first appeared in Chile’s records in the late 1800s on Rapa Nui (Easter Island). On the mainland, the disease was rare and only appeared sporadically. Health workers contained these cases through isolation and treatment on the island, where the last secondary cases were managed in the late 1990s.

Chile has not reported a single locally acquired leprosy case in over 30 years. The last one was detected in 1993. Still, the country never dropped the disease from its public health checklist. It remains a condition that doctors must report, monitored through required reporting, integrated tracking, and constant clinical readiness throughout the healthcare system.

“This landmark public health achievement is a powerful testament to what leadership, science, and solidarity can accomplish,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Chile’s elimination of leprosy sends a clear message to the world: with sustained commitment, inclusive health services, integrated public health strategies, early detection and universal access to care, we can consign ancient diseases to history.”

The verification honors more than three decades of steady public health work, strong surveillance, long-term political dedication, and a health system that stayed alert even when no local transmission existed.

“Chile’s achievement demonstrates that eliminating leprosy is achievable and requires building strong systems that can detect, respond to, and provide comprehensive care for people affected by the disease, including those living with chronic disabilities,” said PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa. “Being the first country in the Americas to be confirmed as eliminating leprosy sends a powerful message to the Region—that diseases strongly linked to groups living in vulnerable conditions can be eliminated, contributing to interrupt the vicious circle between disease and poverty.”

At Chile’s Ministry of Health request, PAHO and WHO brought together an independent expert panel in 2025 to decide if elimination had been reached and could last. The panel conducted a full review, looking at disease data, surveillance methods, case management practices, and plans for the future. Their findings confirmed no local transmission remained and validated Chile’s ability to find and respond to future cases that might appear among people who did not acquire the disease locally.

“This is very good news and a source of great pride for our country. Chile has received verification of the elimination of leprosy disease, becoming the first country in the Americas and the second globally to achieve this recognition,” said Ximena Aguilera, Chile’s Minister of Health. “This milestone reflects decades of sustained public health efforts, including prevention strategies, early diagnosis, effective treatment, continuous follow-up, and the commitment of health teams across the country. It also reaffirms our responsibility to maintain active surveillance and ensure respectful, stigma-free care for all.”

Between 2012 and 2023, Chile reported 47 cases nationwide. None of them were locally acquired.

Chile’s system catches cases early and provides complete care. Primary care clinics serve as the first stop for suspected cases, with quick referrals to skin specialists for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. Doctors and nurses receive training that matches WHO’s “Towards zero leprosy” strategy. The system focuses on early action, preventing disabilities, and full care that includes physical therapy and rehabilitation. This ensures that anyone affected by leprosy gets ongoing support for both short-term and long-term health needs, promoting full recovery and social inclusion.

Chile’s success opens the door for other countries. It shows what political will, teamwork across different sectors, and flexible planning can do in places where the disease is rare.

Since 1995, PAHO, working with WHO, has made sure countries in the Americas—including Chile—have steady access to multidrug therapy (MDT). This continuous supply has been possible thanks to support from The Nippon Foundation (1995–2000) and Novartis (since 2000), which have provided MDT free of charge through direct agreements with WHO. This reliable access, combined with national supply systems, has been essential for curing patients, preventing disability, and stopping transmission.

PAHO has also helped Chile line up its surveillance with international standards, strengthen lab capacity, and maintain medical expertise in a low-incidence setting where many health professionals may never see a case during their entire careers.

Chile’s elimination of leprosy happened within a larger legal and social framework that protects human rights, promotes inclusion, and prevents discrimination. National laws guarantee equal access to healthcare, social protection, and disability services. This ensures that people affected by leprosy receive care without stigma or exclusion.

Chile’s mixed public-private health system, with strong government oversight, further strengthens fair access, including for migrants and other vulnerable groups.

Aligned with WHO’s “Towards zero leprosy” strategy and PAHO’s Disease Elimination Initiative, Chile’s experience shows that elimination is not just about the absence of disease. It is about having a health system that can detect, respond to, and provide complete care whenever a case appears.

Moving into the post-elimination phase, Chile should keep reporting to WHO, maintain sensitive surveillance, and make sure medical expertise is preserved for future sporadic cases as well as any cases acquired outside the country. The verification panel also recommended formally naming a referral center and using WHO Academy’s online training for health workers and staff to strengthen long-term capacity and preparedness.

Leprosy, also known as Hansen disease, is a long-term infectious disease caused by the bacterium *Mycobacterium leprae*. It mainly affects the skin, peripheral nerves, upper respiratory tract lining, and eyes. If left untreated, it can cause permanent nerve damage, disabilities, and social stigma. However, leprosy is fully curable with multidrug therapy, and early detection prevents complications.

As a neglected tropical disease, leprosy still exists in over 120 countries, with more than 200,000 new cases reported worldwide each year.

PAHO’s Disease Elimination Initiative aims to eliminate leprosy, other communicable diseases, and related conditions in the Americas by 2030 through strengthened surveillance, access to treatment, and community engagement.

Neglected tropical diseases are a diverse group of 21 conditions linked to devastating health, social, and economic consequences. They affect one billion people globally, and their burden falls mainly on poor communities in tropical areas.

Public health targets for controlling, eliminating, and eradicating these conditions have been set in the road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030. In 2025 alone, nine countries were validated, verified, or certified by WHO for reaching these targets. Following the successful verification of leprosy elimination, Chile becomes the sixty-first country globally and the sixth in the Americas to have eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease, together with Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Mexico. Chile is the second country in the world after the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to have achieved elimination of leprosy.

On March 6, 2026, a correction was made to the 12th paragraph