What you need to know about trachoma, a highly contagious bacterial infection that can lead to irreversible blindness

Strong public health and community support has helped India to be free from trachoma a highly contagious bacterial infection that has been a major cause of preventable blindness worldwide said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on SundayFrom being the leading cause of blindness during the 1950s and 1960s the World Health Organization WHO last week declared India ldquoofficially free from trachomardquoldquoThis milestone comes after years of dedicated efforts by the government to protect the vision of millions emphasising the importance of healthy eyesight for every individualrdquo the ministry saidAccording to the WHO an estimated 150 million people worldwide are affected by trachoma and 6 million of them are blind or at risk of visually disabling complicationsWhat is TrachomaTrachoma is a neglected tropical disease that is caused by infection by the Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium The disease is transmittable via close physical contact sharing personal belongings like towels and pillows and coughing and sneezingIt is a very painful disease that causes blurry vision red and swollen eyes pain while blinking or sleeping and vision loss If left untreated the disease can lead to irreversible blindnessPoor hygiene practices overcrowded living conditions water scarcity and inadequate latrines and sanitation facilities promote the transmission of trachoma Further the ministry noted that children are more vulnerable to trachomaHow India achieved victory over trachomaTrachoma was a significant public health concern in India during the 1950s and 1960s affecting over 50 per cent of the populations in Gujarat Rajasthan Punjab Haryana Uttar Pradesh and the Nicobar IslandsBy 1971 trachoma was responsible for 5 per cent of all blindness cases in the countryTo curb the pressing issue India implemented a series of measures under the National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment NPCBVIIndia also adopted the WHOrecommended SAFE strategy surgery for trichiasis antibiotics to clear infection and facial cleanliness and environmental improvement to reduce transmissionIn 1963 the government launched the National Trachoma Control Programme that focused on surgical treatment antibiotic distribution facial cleanliness to promote hygiene and reduce transmission and enhancing access to water and sanitationIn 1976 trachoma was integrated into national programmesThe efforts brought significant results with trachoma accounting for 4 per cent of all blindness cases in India and just 0008 per cent by 2018 the ministry saidldquoThrough these continuous efforts India has made significant strides toward eradicating trachoma By 2017 India was declared free from infectious trachomardquo the ministry saidThe National Trachoma Survey Report 201417 indicated that active trachoma infections had been eliminated among children in all surveyed districts with an overall prevalence of only 07 per cent well below the WHOrsquos elimination threshold of 5 per centDespite this remarkable progress India continued ldquovigilant surveillance for trachoma casesrdquo from 2019 to 2024 to check for any resurgence of the diseaseMeanwhile the WHO also applauded Indias effective measures against trachomaWHO DirectorGeneral Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised Indias commitment to alleviating the suffering caused by trachoma emphasising the vital collaboration among the government healthcare professionals and international partners that made this milestone possibleWhile the disease continues to be a challenge in 39 other nations India is among Nepal Myanmar and 19 other countries that have successfully eliminated trachoma as a public health issueThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever