The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared Egypt malaria-free, a landmark achievement following nearly a century of efforts to eliminate the disease. The WHO hailed the certification as “truly historic,” marking a pivotal victory in the global fight against malaria.
In a statement on Sunday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized Egypt’s long battle with the disease, saying, “Malaria has existed as long as Egyptian civilization itself, but the disease that once plagued the pharaohs now belongs to history, not the future.” He credited the Egyptian government and its people for their unwavering commitment to eradicating the disease.
With this certification, Egypt joins a select group of 44 countries and one territory globally recognized as malaria-free. To achieve this status, the WHO requires that a country prove that local malaria transmission by Anopheles mosquitoes has been interrupted for at least three consecutive years, and that the country has the capacity to prevent the disease’s return.
Globally, malaria remains a significant health challenge, with over 600,000 deaths annually, 95% of which occur in Africa. In 2022 alone, there were 249 million recorded cases of malaria worldwide, according to WHO data.
Egypt’s Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar called the certification a new beginning for the country, noting, “Receiving the malaria elimination certificate today is not the end of the journey but the beginning of a new phase.” He underscored the need for continued efforts to maintain Egypt’s malaria-free status, with a focus on vigilant surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment.
Egypt’s fight against malaria dates back to the 1920s when the country introduced measures to reduce human-mosquito contact, such as banning rice cultivation near homes. However, malaria cases surged to over three million by 1942 due to population displacement during World War II. The construction of the Aswan Dam in the 1960s also posed new risks, as stagnant water provided ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes. By 2001, however, Egypt had managed to bring the disease under control, according to the WHO.
Elsewhere, malaria remains a pressing issue, with Nigeria accounting for more than a quarter of all malaria-related deaths annually. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and Mozambique also face high malaria death rates, though global efforts to combat the disease through vaccination have increased in recent years.
