Jordan becomes first WHO-verified nation in the world to eliminate leprosy

HQ Team

September 20, 2024: The West Asian Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has been designated as the first country in the world to be verified by the WHO as having eliminated leprosy.

“Leprosy has afflicted humanity for millennia, but country by country we are stopping transmission and freeing individuals, families and communities from its suffering and stigma,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. It primarily affects the skin, peripheral nerves, mucosal surfaces of the upper respiratory tract and eyes. 

Left untreated, leprosy can cause permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent disability.

Leprosy is a neglected tropical disease which still occurs in more than 120 countries. More than 200,000 new cases are reported every year.

‘Fight against stigma’

“Jordan’s elimination of this age-old disease is a historic milestone in public health and a huge success for efforts to eliminate leprosy globally,” said Saima Wazed, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia who heads WHO’s Global Leprosy Programme.

“The fight against leprosy around the world is more than a fight against a disease. It is also a fight against stigma and a fight against psychological and socio-economic harm,” she said.

Jordan has not reported any autochthonous cases of leprosy for over two decades — a testament to its strong political commitment and effective public health strategies to eliminate the disease, according to a WHO statement.

Following up on the Ministry of Health’s interest in verifying the elimination of leprosy, WHO commissioned an independent team to assess this situation.

‘Maintain surveillance systems’ 

After an extensive review, the verification team recommended that WHO acknowledges leprosy has been eliminated in Jordan.

“Jordan’s elimination of leprosy is an achievement that will transform the discourse around this age-old, stigmatizing disease,” said WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy. “As the first country to achieve this target globally, Jordan stands as an inspiration to other countries, encouraging them to enhance their efforts and overcome barriers to achieve this remarkable feat.”

Although Jordan has successfully eliminated leprosy, the WHO and the Ministry of Health both called for the importance of maintaining robust surveillance systems to detect and manage future potential cases, including foreign-borne cases, without discrimination.

“Jordan’s journey highlights the power of sustained efforts in public health and the potential of global collaboration to overcome even the most challenging public health issues,” said WHO Representative to Jordan Dr Jamela Al-Raiby.