Egypt Declared Malaria-Free by World Health Organization

Cairo, Egypt — October 28, 2024 — Egypt has officially been certified as malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO), marking a significant milestone in public health and the culmination of nearly a century of efforts to eliminate the disease. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed the achievement as “truly historic,” noting that malaria has been part of Egypt’s history since ancient times.

“Malaria is as old as Egyptian civilization itself, but the disease that plagued pharaohs now belongs to its history and not its future,” Tedros stated. He emphasized that this certification reflects the commitment of both the Egyptian government and its people to eradicate this ancient health challenge.

With Egypt’s certification, a total of 44 countries and one territory have now been recognized as malaria-free by the WHO. Certification is granted when a nation can demonstrate that indigenous malaria transmission by Anopheles mosquitoes has been interrupted for at least three consecutive years.

Despite this progress, the global fight against malaria continues, with 249 million cases reported in 2022 alone, underscoring the need for ongoing vigilance and prevention efforts worldwide.

Correspondent

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