Egypt Celebrates Historic Malaria-Free Certification After Century-Long Battle

Egypt has received an official malaria-free certification from the World Health Organization (WHO), a distinction applauded by the UN health agency as a monumental accomplishment. WHO's chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, remarked, “Malaria is as old as Egyptian civilization itself, but the disease that plagued pharaohs is now part of history.”The journey to eradicate malaria from Egypt spanned nearly a century, starting from the 1920s when initial measures were implemented to mitigate human-mosquito contact, such as restricting rice farming and nearby agricultural activities. Certification by the WHO is bestowed upon nations proving they have interrupted the disease's transmission for a minimum of three consecutive years. Each year, malaria claims around 600,000 lives, predominantly in Africa.In a statement released on Sunday, the WHO acknowledged the efforts of both the Egyptian government and its citizens, commending them for conquering a disease that has been entrenched in their society since ancient times. With Egypt being the third nation in the WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region to receive this certification—following the United Arab Emirates and Morocco—the global total of malaria-free countries stands at 44, plus one territory.However, the agency cautioned that this achievement marks merely the onset of a new chapter, emphasizing the need for vigilance to sustain the malaria-free status. To maintain this accolade, countries must establish robust systems to deter any potential resurgence of the disease.While malaria vaccines are being deployed in select regions, preventive measures, including continual monitoring and minimizing mosquito bites, remain the most effective strategies to avert new infections.