The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights significant global disease control milestones in 2025, demonstrating major progress in eliminating and reducing the burden of infectious diseases worldwide. While many achievements focus on low- and middle-income countries, these efforts contribute to global health security, including benefits for the United States through reduced international transmission risks and strengthened pandemic preparedness.
Key wins include three countries—Georgia, Suriname, and Timor-Leste—certified malaria-free, bringing the total to over 40 nations since 2007. Seven additional African countries introduced malaria vaccines, expanding access to this life-saving tool and protecting millions of children annually.
The Maldives achieved the world’s first “triple elimination” of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B, while Brazil eliminated mother-to-child HIV transmission—the largest population in the Americas to reach this milestone. Progress against neglected tropical diseases continued, with 32% fewer people requiring interventions since 2010 and several countries eliminating diseases like trachoma and sleeping sickness.
A landmark goal vaccinated 86 million girls against HPV ahead of schedule, advancing efforts to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health threat. Tuberculosis deaths declined markedly in several regions, and global measles vaccination saved an estimated 59 million lives since 2000, though challenges persist.
In the U.S. context, these global victories enhance domestic health security by curbing imported cases of vaccine-preventable and vector-borne diseases. CDC collaborations with WHO support surveillance, research, and response capacities that protect Americans from emerging threats.
Despite funding challenges, WHO’s 2025 report underscores that 1.4 billion more people enjoy healthier lives thanks to improvements in tobacco control, air quality, water, and sanitation—indirectly benefiting U.S. public health through shared knowledge and reduced global disease pools.
These milestones reflect collective action yielding tangible progress, reinforcing commitments to u
