Egypt has officially been declared malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO), a significant achievement that the UN agency has called “truly historic.” The certification is a testament to Egypt’s nearly century-long battle to eradicate the mosquito-borne disease, which once plagued ancient pharaohs.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus remarked on the momentous occasion, stating that malaria, which has existed since the dawn of Egyptian civilization, now belongs to the country’s past.
To earn malaria-free status, a country must demonstrate no transmission of the disease for three consecutive years. Egypt becomes the third country in the WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region to achieve this certification, following the United Arab Emirates and Morocco. Globally, 44 countries and one territory have been recognized for eliminating the disease.
In a statement, the WHO lauded the Egyptian government and people for their persistent efforts, noting that the country’s journey to eliminate malaria began as early as the 1920s. These initial efforts included banning rice cultivation near residential areas to limit human-mosquito contact.
While Egypt celebrates this milestone, the WHO has urged continued vigilance to maintain its malaria-free status, emphasizing the importance of ongoing prevention measures.