Table 1.

WHO criteria for intervention against and elimination of trachoma as a public health problem

Interventions	Population group surveyed	Sign measured	Decision
Criteria for initiation of trachoma elimination programmes (district level): baseline survey
AFE	Children aged 1–9 years.	TF	<5%=no intervention (active trachoma not a public health problem). 5%–9.9%=1 year of AFE, then impact survey. 10%–29.9%=3 years of AFE, then impact survey. ≥30%=5 years of AFE, then impact survey.
S	Adults aged 15 years and above.	TT	<0.2%=no public health-level intervention (TT not a public health problem). ≥0.2%=community-based TT management programme.
Criteria for cessation of interventions (district level): impact survey
AFE	Children aged 1–9 years.	TF	<5%=discontinue A, maintain F&E. 5%–9.9%=1 year of AFE, then impact survey. 10%–29.9%=3 years of AFE, then impact survey. ≥30%=5 years of AFE, then impact survey.
S	Adults aged 15 years and above.	TT	<0.2%=discontinue community-based TT management; strengthen facility-based management. ≥0.2%=continue community-based TT management programme.
Criteria for elimination (district level): surveillance survey
AFE	<5% TF in children aged 1–9 years.
S	<0.2% of unmanaged TT in adults aged 15 years and above.*

*WHO.²⁶

AFE, antibiotics, facial cleanliness, environmental improvement; S, surgery; TF, trachomatous inflammation-follicular; TT, trachomatous trichiasis.