WHO Certifies Egypt as Malaria-Free After a Century-Long Fight

The World Health Organization officially certified Egypt as malaria-free in October 2023, recognizing a century of sustained efforts to eliminate the disease in a country where it once caused devastating epidemics. Egypt became the third country in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region to receive this certification, after the United Arab Emirates and Morocco.

The certification reflects nearly 100 years of work. Egypt launched its first anti-malaria campaigns in the 1920s, focusing on draining swamps along the Nile River and distributing treatments. A major epidemic in the 1940s killed tens of thousands, galvanizing the government to intensify control measures. Since then, Egypt maintained robust surveillance and rapid-response systems, even as neighboring countries continued to struggle with the disease.

“Egypt became the third country in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region to receive this certification, after the United Arab Emirates and Morocco.”

To receive malaria-free certification, a country must prove to the WHO that the chain of local transmission has been interrupted for at least three consecutive years. Egypt reported its last indigenous case of malaria in 2014, and maintained rigorous monitoring systems to ensure no resurgence occurred.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised Egypt's achievement as a testament to political commitment and sustained investment in public health infrastructure. The success was attributed to a combination of vector control, effective case management, strong surveillance, and community engagement.

The milestone is particularly significant given Egypt's geography — the Nile River valley and delta historically provided ideal breeding grounds for the Anopheles mosquitoes that transmit malaria. Egypt's success demonstrates that even countries with challenging environments can eliminate the disease through long-term dedication and evidence-based interventions.