The World Health Organization has officially verified Chile as leprosy-free — making it the first country in the Americas, and only the second globally after Jordan, to achieve this extraordinary public health milestone.
Three Decades Without Local Transmission
Chile has not reported a single locally acquired case of leprosy for more than 30 years, with the last case detected in 1993 on Rapa Nui (Easter Island). But rather than simply waiting for the disease to disappear, Chile kept leprosy on its public health agenda as a notifiable condition, monitored through mandatory reporting, integrated surveillance, and continuous clinical readiness.
In 2025, at the request of Chile's Ministry of Health, PAHO and WHO convened an independent expert panel that reviewed epidemiological data, surveillance mechanisms, case management protocols, and sustainability plans. The panel confirmed the absence of local transmission and validated Chile's capacity to detect and respond to any future cases.
A Message to the World
"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, and universal access to care, we can consign ancient diseases to history."
PAHO Director Dr Jarbas Barbosa added: "Being the first country in the Americas to be confirmed as eliminating leprosy sends a powerful message — that diseases strongly linked to groups living in vulnerable conditions can be eliminated, contributing to interrupt the vicious circle between disease and poverty."
What It Means
Chile is now the 61st country globally and the sixth in the Americas to have eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease, joining Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Mexico. The achievement proves that even diseases deeply rooted in human history can be conquered through persistent public health action.
Sources: WHO, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Chile Ministry of Health
