WHO Certifies Egypt Malaria-Free

By Adebowale Bello. Freelance Health Writer.

Monday, October 21, 2024. Egypt is officially malaria-free as declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) on October 20th, 2024. Over the past 100 years, the Egyptian government has taken measures and steps which have culminated in this milestone achievement of malaria’s eradication.

The WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared in a statement: “Malaria is as old as Egyptian civilization itself but the disease that plagued pharaohs now belongs to its history and not its future. This certification of Egypt as malaria-free is truly historic and a testament to the commitment of the people and government of Egypt to rid themselves of this ancient scourge. He further congratulated Egypt on this achievement as it has shown to other countries what’s possible with the right resources and the right tools.

After the United Arab Emirates (2007) and Morocco (2010), Egypt (2024)  becomes the third country in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region to achieve malaria-free status. Globally, a total of 44 countries and one territory have reached this milestone as at 20 October 2024.

Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Egypt’s Deputy Prime Minister, acknowledged the accomplishment but emphasized the importance of sustaining these efforts. “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 and vigilantly to sustain our achievement through maintaining the highest standards for surveillance, diagnosis and treatment, integrated vector management and sustaining our effective and rapid response to imported cases. Our continued multisectoral efforts will be critical to preserving Egypt's malaria-free status.” He further reaffirmed that the health of all people—residents or tourists—in Egypt would be safeguarded under the wise leadership's guidance and enhanced healthcare system.

For a country to be certified malaria-free by WHO, it must demonstrate that indigenous transmission by Anopheles mosquitoes has been interrupted for at least three consecutive years. The country must also prove its ability to prevent the reintroduction of the disease.

Egypt’s Journey to Malaria Elimination

Archaeological findings have traced the presence of malaria in Egypt to as far back as 4000 B. C. E. Early measures to reduce human-mosquito contact were implemented as far back as the 1920s, including restrictions on rice and crop cultivation near residential areas. At that time, malaria prevalence in Egypt’s Nile River region reached up to 40%. In 1930, Egypt classified malaria as a notifiable disease, leading to the establishment of its first malaria control station, which focused on diagnosis, treatment and monitoring.

During the second world war, there were over 3 million malaria cases because of a combination of factors such as disrupted medical supplies, population displacement and the introduction of a highly efficient mosquito vector: Anopheles arabiensis. However, the nation brought the outbreak under control by establishing 16 treatment centers and deploying more than 4,000 health workers.

Following the construction of the Aswan Dam in 1969, Egypt faced new malaria risks due to increased mosquito breeding grounds. Collaborating with Sudan, Egypt launched an aggressive vector control and public health surveillance initiative to mitigate the risk. By 2001, the country had malaria under control, and the Ministry of Health and Population focused on preventing the resurgence of local transmission. In 2014, Egypt rapidly contained a small malaria outbreak in the Aswan Governorate through early case detection, rapid treatment, and public education.

“This achievement is a testament to Egypt’s resolve and collaboration across sectors,” said Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. “Egypt’s elimination of malaria provides hope to other endemic regions and highlights the importance of a robust, integrated health system, along with ongoing community engagement. Our continued support to countries like Sudan remains a priority.”

Egypt’s commitment to public health has been key to its success. Malaria diagnosis and treatment are available free of charge to all residents and healthcare professionals across the country are trained to detect cases particularly at borders. Egypt’s strong cross-border collaboration with neighboring countries like Sudan has played a pivotal role in preventing malaria's reintroduction, paving the way for its certification as malaria-free.

Source: World Health Organization Newsroom

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Published: October 21, 2024

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