The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared Egypt as malaria-free.
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Image: Pexels / Jim Bear
The declaration marks the end of a nearly century-long effort to eradicate the disease from the country.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised the historical achievement:
“Malaria is as old as Egyptian civilisation itself, but the disease that plagued pharaohs now belongs to its history and not its future.”
Egypt joins 44 countries and one territory that have been certified malaria-free globally. It is the third country in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region to receive this certification.
The journey to elimination began in the 1920s with early control efforts. Despite challenges like a spike in cases during World War II and risks created by the Aswan Dam construction, Egypt persevered with rigorous vector control and surveillance measures..
WHO’s certification process requires proof that indigenous malaria transmission has been interrupted nationwide for at least three consecutive years and the demonstration of capacity to prevent its re-establishment.
While Egypt celebrates this significant public health victory, it’s important to note that malaria remains a global challenge.
The WHO reports that in 2022, there were 249 million recorded malaria cases worldwide, with the disease claiming over 600,000 lives annually, 95% of them in Africa.
Egypt’s success in eliminating malaria should serve as a model for other countries still battling the disease.
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