Egypt has achieved a major health milestone, officially certified malaria-free by the World Health Organization. The UN health agency called the achievement “truly historic,” with WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noting that malaria, which once plagued ancient pharaohs, is now part of Egypt’s history.
The certification follows nearly a century of efforts by Egyptian authorities to eradicate the mosquito-borne disease. A country must demonstrate no local transmission for at least three consecutive years to earn the status.
Egypt becomes the third country in the WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region to achieve this, joining the UAE and Morocco. Globally, 44 countries and one territory have reached malaria-free status.
While celebrating the achievement, the WHO urged Egypt to remain vigilant to prevent resurgence. Preventive efforts in the country date back to the 1920s, including bans on rice cultivation near homes to reduce mosquito breeding.
Malaria remains a serious global threat, killing over 600,000 people annually, mostly in Africa. Though vaccines offer new hope, prevention and monitoring remain key.
