Egypt has been declared malaria-free by the World Health Organization

Egypt has been declared malaria-free by the World Health Organization.

Egypt is the third country in the Eastern Mediterranean to be recognized as malaria-free by the WHO, after Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. A total of 44 countries and one territory have this designation.

The WHO calls a country malaria-free if it can demonstrate “beyond reasonable doubt” that the disease has disappeared for three consecutive years prior to certification and has not been spread by the Anopheles mosquito species, also known as swamp mosquitoes. Countries must also demonstrate that they have effective prevention measures in place.

“This certification of Egypt as malaria-free is truly historic and a testament to the commitment of the Egyptian people and government to rid themselves of this ancient scourge,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement. “I congratulate Egypt on this success, which is an inspiration to other countries in the region and shows what is possible with the right resources and the right tools.”

According to the WHO, the disease was reported in the country as early as 4,000 BC. It was first discovered in the 19th century BC, although efforts to curb the spread of malaria began in the 1920s. At that time, Egypt banned the cultivation of rice and other crops near houses.

The first malaria control station was opened in Egypt in 1930, when malaria had a prevalence of about 40% and was considered a “notifiable disease,” according to the WHO.

There were more than 3 million cases during World War II, but they were contained with more treatment centers and intensive recruitment of medical personnel.

In 1969, there was another spike in cases due to the construction of the Aswan Dam. The stagnant water led to an increased reproduction of mosquitoes. There was another surge in Aswan in 2014, but cases were brought under control early on, the WHO said.

Malaria testing and diagnosis is free for all Egyptian residents.

“Today’s receipt of the malaria elimination certificate is not the end of the journey, but the beginning of a new phase,” said Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar. “We must now work tirelessly and vigilantly to maintain our successes by maintaining the highest standards of surveillance, diagnosis and treatment, integrated vector management and an effective and rapid response to imported cases.”

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