Cairo: Egypt has officially been certified malaria-free, with the World Health Organization (WHO) EMRO, praising the achievement as “truly historic” after nearly a century of efforts to eradicate the disease.
A historic achievement
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement that, “Malaria is as old as Egyptian civilization itself, but the disease that plagued pharaohs now belongs to its history and not its future.” The Director emphasized that the certification is a testament to Egypt’s commitment to eliminating the ancient scourge.
Global context
Worldwide, 44 countries and one territory have now been certified as malaria-free by the WHO. This status is granted when a country proves that indigenous malaria transmission via Anopheles mosquitoes has been halted for at least three consecutive years. The country must also demonstrate the ability to prevent re-establishment of the disease.
Despite these successes, malaria remains a significant global threat, killing over 600,000 people annually, 95% of whom are in Africa. According to WHO data, there were 249 million recorded cases of malaria globally in 2022.
Egypt’s battle against Malaria
Egypt’s Health Minister, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, emphasized the importance of vigilance moving forward and said that, “Receiving the malaria elimination certificate today is not the end of the journey but the beginning of a new phase. We must now work tirelessly to sustain our achievement through maintaining the highest standards for surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment.”
Egypt’s fight against malaria began in the 1920s when efforts were made to reduce human-mosquito contact by banning the cultivation of rice and other crops near homes. However, World War II disrupted these efforts, and by 1942, malaria cases surged to over three million. The construction of the Aswan Dam in the 1960s also posed new risks, as stagnant water created mosquito breeding grounds. Despite these challenges, the WHO confirmed that Egypt had malaria “firmly under control” by 2001.
Global efforts to combat Malaria
While Egypt celebrates its milestone, other nations, especially in Africa, continue to grapple with the disease. Nigeria, in particular, accounts for over a quarter of global malaria deaths, followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and Mozambique. Efforts to combat the disease, including expanded vaccination campaigns, have been ramped up this year.
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