JORDAN—The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially verified that the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has eliminated leprosy, a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae.
This achievement now makes Jordan the first country in the world to officially eradicate the disease under the current global public health frameworks.
Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is primarily transmitted through droplets from the nose and mouth of untreated individuals during close and frequent contact.
The disease mainly affects the skin, peripheral nerves, upper respiratory tract, and eyes.
Without early diagnosis and treatment, leprosy can result in permanent damage to the skin, nerves, and limbs, causing severe disability.
Although leprosy remains a global concern, with over 200,000 new cases recorded each year in over 120 countries, it is curable with a multi-drug therapy (MDT) regimen consisting of dapsone, rifampicin, and clofazimine, which the WHO administers free of cost.
In a statement released by WHO, Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus congratulated Jordan on reaching this remarkable milestone.
He emphasized the historical significance of leprosy, noting that while it has afflicted humanity for millennia, countries like Jordan are leading efforts to halt its transmission.
This not only liberates individuals from the physical effects of the disease but also from the social stigma that surrounds it.
Saima Wazed, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia and head of WHO’s Global Leprosy Programme, further praised Jordan’s success, calling it a “historic milestone in public health” and a victory in the global battle to eliminate leprosy.
She pointed out that the fight against the disease extends beyond medical treatment, encompassing efforts to reduce stigma and the socio-economic harm caused by leprosy.
Jordan’s elimination of leprosy demonstrates its strong political commitment and successful public health initiatives, as the country has not recorded any locally transmitted cases of leprosy in more than two decades.
The Ministry of Health, recognizing the importance of confirming this achievement, requested an independent team, commissioned by WHO, to assess the situation.
Following an extensive review, the team recommended that WHO officially acknowledge Jordan’s elimination of the disease.
WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr. Hanan Balkhy, highlighted that Jordan’s success in eliminating leprosy will reshape global conversations around this stigmatizing disease.
As the first country to achieve this global target, Jordan serves as a model for other nations, demonstrating the importance of political commitment, collaboration, and strategic planning in tackling complex public health challenges.
Despite the elimination of leprosy, both the WHO and the Ministry of Health stress the need for continuous vigilance.
Maintaining robust surveillance systems to detect and manage potential future cases, particularly those originating from other countries, remains a priority.
Ensuring these systems remain non-discriminatory and effective is critical in sustaining Jordan’s success.
In addition to these comments, WHO Representative to Jordan, Dr. Jamela Al-Raiby, acknowledged that Jordan’s success in eliminating leprosy demonstrates the power of sustained public health efforts and the potential of global collaboration to overcome even the most challenging health issues.
She attributed this success to the strong leadership of Jordan’s Ministry of Health, close cooperation with the WHO, and technical support provided at all levels of the organization.
Dr. Al-Raiby reaffirmed the WHO’s commitment to continue supporting Jordan to ensure the sustainability of this success, adding it to the list of Jordan’s public health accomplishments.
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