2023 Trachoma Surveillance Report
The Australian Trachoma Surveillance Report 2023 has recently been published by the Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care (29 January 2025). The report was prepared by the National Trachoma Surveillance and Reporting Unit (NTSRU) of the UNSW Kirby Institute with the National Trachoma Surveillance and Control Reference Group.
The national overall prevalence of trachoma decreased slightly from 2.0% in 2022 to 1.8% in 2023.
In both 2022 and 2023 the overall trachoma prevalence is below endemicity levels required for recognition by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that Australia has eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. NTSRU reports that 2024 surveillance data needs also to meet WHO requirements for elimination certification.
This is a positive report documenting ongoing national, jurisdictional, regional and local achievement towards the elimination of trachoma. The efforts of community and the community controlled sector, with the support of partners, have been key to keeping faces clean and eyes strong.