In October 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared Egypt malaria-free. Egypt was only the second country in the world, following Cabo Verde, to be declared Malaria-free in 2024. Egypt achieves malaria-free status as the amalgamation of hundreds of years of scientific and medical progress, as well as global efforts to minimize and eradicate dangerous communicable diseases, has helped the country.

History of Egypt’s Fight Against Malaria

Malaria has a long and tedious history within Egypt, beginning around 4000 BCE. Outbreaks were concentrated around the Nile River, affecting settlements nearby. Archaeological evidence found in ancient Egyptian mummies, such as Tutankhamun and others, supports this.

A key milestone in the history of malaria in Egypt was in the 1920s, with efforts to reduce mosquito breeding just beginning. Moving forward to the 1930s, malaria was classified as a notifiable disease, increasing rapidly with the unhygienic conditions aggravated by World War II efforts.

With World War II ending, Egypt’s efforts against malaria included environmental management, vaccination companies and joint endeavours with Sudan near the infamous Aswan Dam, which became a hotspot for malaria after its construction was completed in 1969. The latest recorded outbreak was in 2014 in the Aswan Governorate region, which swiftly controlled a small malarial outbreak through early case identification, prompt treatment, vector control and public education.

Certification of Malaria-Free Status by WHO

The WHO awards certification of a disease-free status when a country can provide record-backed up proof of no local transmission of malaria for three consecutive years and demonstrate the capacity to prevent the re-establishment of the disease, i.e. the preemptive precaution taken to safeguard the population from the disease. Egypt met each of these standards through a well-regulated health system, a prominent vaccination drive and protective public health monitoring.

Egypt has become the third nation in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region to earn the malaria-free certification, following in the footsteps of Morocco, which achieved this status in 2010, and the United Arab Emirates, which was declared malaria-free in 2007.

This milestone brings the total number of countries and territories certified malaria-free by the WHO to 44 countries and one territory.

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Measures Taken to Prevent Malaria

Over the past decade, Egypt has significantly increased healthcare accessibility, with 95% of the population now residing within 5 kilometres of a primary health centre. Malaria diagnosis and treatment services are provided free of charge, including to undocumented Sudanese migrants.

As Egypt achieves malaria-free status, it has stood out as a model nation for other countries on the African continent, including Nigeria and Sudan, among some of the highest malaria cases recorded globally. In 2016, Egypt formed a High Committee for Integrated Vector Management to improve coordination across various ministries in addressing and controlling vector-borne diseases.

Egypt’s Health Ministry remains cautious and vigilant, maintaining and regulating its surveillance and general environmental hygiene, and it collaborates with neighbouring countries to prevent resurgence. Public health and awareness campaigns have become a nationwide initiative to ensure access to malaria treatment and prevention.

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