Elimination of trachoma-knowing where to intervene

Abstract

Trachoma, a chronic conjunctivitis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, remains the leading cause of infectious blindness in the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified trachoma as one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that is targeted for elimination as a public health problem. Five years ago, trachoma was still one of the more neglected of the NTDs, but increased attention and funding from major donors, like the Department for International Development (DFID) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), combined with continued commitment from Pfizer for the donation of Zithromax has put trachoma on track for elimination.