Chile Becomes First in Americas to Eliminate Leprosy

For the first time in the Americas, a country has completely eliminated leprosy as a public health threat. Chile earned official certification from the World Health Organization and Pan American Health Organization in 2025, becoming only the second nation worldwide to achieve this remarkable feat.

The journey started decades ago on Easter Island, where leprosy cases once required strict isolation and treatment. The last person to contract the disease locally in Chile was diagnosed in 1993, marking the beginning of three decades without new transmission.

Since then, Chile has maintained intense vigilance. Between 2012 and 2023, the country detected 47 leprosy cases, but every single one came from outside Chile's borders. Each patient received immediate diagnosis and complete treatment through the country's integrated healthcare system.

The country's success relied on training primary care workers to spot early symptoms and refer patients to specialists quickly. Beyond just treating the disease, Chile offers physiotherapy and long-term rehabilitation to prevent disabilities and help patients fully reintegrate into their communities.

The Ripple Effect

Chile's achievement sends a powerful message across Latin America and beyond. When countries commit to accessible healthcare and sustained surveillance, even ancient diseases that have plagued humanity for centuries can be stopped.

The World Health Organization has provided free treatment to countries in the Americas since 1995, making cure accessible to everyone who needs it. Chile took that foundation and built a system that treats patients without stigma while protecting their rights to social support and disability services.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, celebrated the milestone as proof that strong leadership guided by science can achieve what once seemed impossible. Dr. Jarbas Barbosa from PAHO emphasized how eliminating diseases that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations helps bridge the gap between disease and poverty.

The work doesn't stop here. Chile continues monitoring and training healthcare workers to catch any imported cases quickly, maintaining the robust system that made elimination possible in the first place.

This victory shows other nations that neglected tropical diseases don't have to stay neglected forever.