Egypt has been officially declared free of malaria by the World Health Organization (WHO), marking a major public health victory for the country. This achievement, described as “historic” by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, comes after nearly 100 years of sustained efforts to eliminate the disease.
Malaria, once endemic in Egypt for thousands of years, has now been eradicated, with WHO confirming that there has been no local transmission of the disease in the country for at least three consecutive years—one of the key requirements for malaria-free certification.
Despite the global toll of malaria, which still claims over 600,000 lives annually—primarily in Africa—Egypt joins 44 other countries and territories that have successfully eliminated the disease. Egypt is now the third nation in the WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region to achieve this milestone, following the United Arab Emirates and Morocco.
The WHO commended Egypt’s long-term efforts, dating back to the 1920s, which included measures like reducing mosquito-attracting crops such as rice. However, the organization emphasized the need for continued vigilance to prevent a resurgence of malaria in the future.
Malaria, caused by a parasite transmitted through mosquito bites, is still best controlled through preventive measures such as mosquito avoidance and close monitoring, although vaccines are starting to be used in some areas.
