Chile becomes first country in the Americas to eliminate leprosy

Chile has become the first country in the Americas — and only the second in the world — to be officially verified for the elimination of leprosy, as announced in a news release by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The verification follows more than three decades without a single locally acquired case, with the last one recorded in 1993. It is a milestone built not on luck, but on sustained political commitment, strong surveillance, and a health system that never stopped watching.

Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, has a long history in Chile, first recorded in the late 19th century on Rapa Nui (Easter Island). The disease never took hold on the mainland, and by the late 1990s, the last secondary cases on the island had been successfully managed. Still, Chile kept leprosy on its public health radar — maintaining mandatory reporting, integrated surveillance, and clinical readiness even as decades passed without local transmission.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the achievement “a powerful testament to what leadership, science, and solidarity can accomplish,” adding that Chile’s success proves ancient diseases can be consigned to history with the right tools and commitment. Chile’s Health Minister Ximena Aguilera echoed that pride, crediting “decades of sustained public health efforts, including prevention strategies, early diagnosis, effective treatment, and the commitment of health teams across the country.” PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa pointed to a broader lesson: that diseases deeply tied to poverty and vulnerability can be beaten, helping break that vicious cycle for good.

An independent expert panel convened by PAHO and WHO in 2025 reviewed Chile’s epidemiological data, surveillance systems, and case management protocols before confirming the elimination. Between 2012 and 2023, Chile reported just 47 cases nationally — none locally acquired. The country’s model integrates primary care entry points with specialist dermatology referrals, disability prevention, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation, ensuring comprehensive support for anyone affected.

Chile’s achievement now serves as a blueprint for the rest of the region, showing what is possible when political will, cross-sector collaboration, and adaptive health planning come together over the long haul. Moving forward, WHO encourages Chile to maintain sensitive surveillance, retain clinical expertise for sporadic imported cases, and formally designate a leprosy referral center — because elimination, as this milestone makes clear, is not a finish line but an ongoing commitment.