Egypt has officially been certified as malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO), marking the culmination of nearly 100 years of efforts to eliminate the disease.
The certification is granted to countries that demonstrate no indigenous malaria transmission for three consecutive years. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised Egypt’s achievement, noting the country’s commitment to public health.
Egypt joins 44 other countries and one territory in attaining this status, a significant milestone in global malaria eradication efforts.
Despite the success, Egyptian health authorities stressed the importance of ongoing vigilance to prevent the resurgence of malaria, a disease that still claims over 600,000 lives annually worldwide, with Africa bearing the brunt.
Egypt’s historical battle with malaria, which saw millions of cases in the 1940s, has now ended, thanks to decades of concerted efforts.
The Egyptian government pledged to maintain its high standards of surveillance and prevention to sustain this success.
