Egypt certified malaria-free

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Extract from the article: On 20 October 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Egypt malaria-free. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed this success, saying: « Malaria, a disease as old as Egyptian civilisation, is now a thing of the past. The ce

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On 20 October 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Egypt malaria-free. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed this success, saying: « Malaria, a disease as old as Egyptian civilisation, is now a thing of the past. The certification of the elimination of malaria in Egypt is a major event and demonstrates the commitment of the Egyptian government and people to rid themselves of this historic scourge. I congratulate Egypt, which will be a source of inspiration for other countries in the region, and which shows that it can be achieved using the right resources and the right tools ».

The eradication of malaria in Egypt is the result of almost one hundred years of concerted efforts to reduce interactions between humans and mosquitoes carrying the Plasmodium parasite. As early as the 1920s, measures such as banning certain agricultural crops near residential areas were implemented to limit the spread of mosquitoes. These measures helped to control the disease, although the country experienced several outbreaks over the course of the century.

However, thanks to sustained efforts, in particular through diagnosis, rapid treatment and insect control measures, Egypt has recorded no indigenous cases of malaria for three consecutive years. This meets the criteria set by the WHO for declaring a country free of the disease.Egypt thus becomes the third country in the region to receive this certification, after the United Arab Emirates in 2007 and Morocco in 2010.

This historic turning point was made possible thanks to partnerships with neighbouring countries, notably Sudan, and a rigorous public health policy.Free access to essential healthcare for all, including migrants, also played a crucial role in this success. With this victory, Egypt joins 44 other countries and one territory in the world to have eliminated this ancient disease.

The WHO grants certification of malaria elimination to a country after it has been established beyond reasonable doubt that the chain of local transmission of malaria by Anopheles mosquitoes has been interrupted throughout the country for at least three consecutive years.The country must also demonstrate its capacity to prevent the resumption of transmission.

Raymond DZAKPATA