Brief
PAHO Recognizes Five Americas Nations for Disease Elimination
Brazil, Chile, El Salvador, The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands received WHO certification for eliminating major communicable diseases.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Washington, D.C., 29 Sept 2026 – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) announced that five countries and territories in the Americas have been recognised for eliminating at least one communicable disease or related condition between September 2025 and September 2026.
Brazil was validated in December 2025 for eliminating mother‑to‑child transmission of HIV, the first most‑populous nation to do so. Chile was verified in March 2026 for eliminating leprosy as a public‑health problem and, in September, became the first South American country validated for eliminating dog‑transmitted rabies. El Salvador received validation in July 2026 for eliminating trachoma, the first Central American country to achieve that milestone. The Bahamas was certified in April 2026 for eliminating mother‑to‑child transmission of HIV, and the Turks and Caicos Islands were certified in June 2026 for eliminating both mother‑to‑child transmission of HIV and hepatitis B.
PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa said the recognitions reflect the region’s ability to turn political commitment and evidence into concrete health results and highlighted that around 60 % of global recognitions for eliminating mother‑to‑child HIV transmission are in the Americas.
Key facts
- Brazil was validated in December 2025 for eliminating mother‑to‑child transmission of HIV. (paho.org)
- Chile was verified in March 2026 for eliminating leprosy and in September 2026 for eliminating dog‑transmitted rabies. (paho.org)
- El Salvador was validated in July 2026 for eliminating trachoma. (paho.org)
- The Bahamas was certified in April 2026 for eliminating mother‑to‑child transmission of HIV. (paho.org)
- Turks and Caicos Islands were certified in June 2026 for eliminating mother‑to‑child transmission of HIV and hepatitis B. (paho.org)
Sources
- [1] paho.org — originally reported as “Five countries and territories recognized for disease elimination achievements in the Americas”
