Egypt has officially been declared malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO), marking a significant milestone recognized as “truly historic” by the UN public health agency.
“Malaria dates back to the time of the pharaohs, but this ancient disease is now a part of Egypt’s history,” stated WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Egypt began its first efforts to eradicate the mosquito-borne disease nearly a century ago. WHO certification is awarded when a country can demonstrate that malaria transmission has been interrupted for at least three consecutive years. Malaria continues to claim over 600,000 lives annually, with the vast majority of cases in Africa.
In a statement on Sunday, the WHO commended “the Egyptian government and people” for their commitment to eliminating a disease that has existed in the region for thousands of years. Egypt now joins the ranks of the United Arab Emirates and Morocco as the third country in WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region to achieve this certification.
Globally, 44 countries and one territory have now reached this important milestone. However, the WHO emphasized that this is “just the beginning of a new phase” for Egypt, advising continued vigilance to maintain its malaria-free status.
To obtain certification, a country must also demonstrate the ability to prevent malaria from re-establishing itself. Egypt’s first steps to combat malaria began in the 1920s, including banning rice cultivation and other crops near residential areas to reduce human-mosquito contact.
Malaria, caused by a complex parasite and transmitted through mosquito bites, remains a global challenge. Although vaccines are now available in some regions, the most effective preventive measures include monitoring the disease and avoiding mosquito exposure.
Leave a Reply