The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Egypt as malaria-free, with Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, receiving an official certificate to commemorate this significant achievement. “Malaria is as old as Egyptian civilization itself, but the disease that plagued pharaohs now belongs to its history,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO chief said, highlighting that this achievement reflects a century of dedication from the Egyptian government and its people. Globally, a total of 44 countries and one territory have been certified malaria-free. Egypt is the first country to reach this milestone since 2010 and the third in the Mediterranean region, following the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Morocco. Malaria, a life-threatening disease transmitted by certain types of mosquitoes, poses significant risks to young children, infants, pregnant women, travelers, and individuals with HIV or AIDS. Symptoms can range from mild, such as fever, chills, and headaches, to severe, including fatigue, confusion, seizures, and difficulty breathing. While predominantly found in tropical regions, malaria is both preventable and treatable. According to WHO, in 2022 there were an estimated 249 million malaria cases and 608,000 deaths worldwide across 85…
How Egypt Eradicated Malaria and Secured WHO Certification
October 26, 2024
By Nadine Tag
Journalist
