In brief
This certification highlights Egypt’s successful battle against malaria, a disease that has influenced its civilization for thousands of years, but now belongs only to history.
Egypt has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as malaria-free, a significant milestone in public health efforts after nearly a century of dedicated action. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised this accomplishment, noting that malaria was deeply rooted in Egyptian history, yet now the nation is free from the ailments once faced by pharaohs. This certification comes as the result of sustained efforts to eliminate malaria, which kills approximately 600,000 individuals each year, predominantly in Africa. A country's malaria-free status is confirmed only when it demonstrates that malaria transmission has been interrupted for three consecutive years. Egypt marks a notable achievement as the third country within WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Region to gain this certification, following the United Arab Emirates and Morocco. While 44 countries and one territory worldwide have achieved similar recognition, the WHO stresses that Egypt must remain vigilant to maintain this malaria-free status. This involves establishing strong measures to prevent the resurgence of transmission in the country. The initial steps to curb the disease date back to the 1920s, when Egypt undertook efforts to minimize human-mosquito interaction, including bans on certain agricultural practices near residential areas. Despite advancements in malaria vaccines, the WHO underscores that vigilant monitoring and proactive measures against mosquito bites are key strategies in sustaining a malaria-free environment.
