Egypt malaria-free after 100-year effort- WHO Declares

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared Egypt free of malaria, a significant accomplishment for the country, which the WHO described as a "truly historic" achievement.

Malaria has been a longstanding issue in Egypt, but it is now a thing of the past. 
According to the WHO director-general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, "Malaria is as old as Egyptian civilization, but it no longer exists in the country."

Egypt has been working to eliminate malaria for almost a century. To be declared malaria-free, a country must demonstrate that no local transmission of the disease has occurred for at least three consecutive years.
Malaria remains a deadly scourge, claiming over 600,000 lives annually, primarily in Africa. However, Egypt has now joined the ranks of 44 countries and one territory worldwide that have successfully eliminated the disease. It is the third country in the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Region to achieve this milestone, following the United Arab Emirates and Morocco.

The WHO commended Egypt's efforts but cautioned that the country must remain vigilant to prevent the resurgence of malaria. Egypt's fight against the disease began in the 1920s, when they took measures to limit the cultivation of crops like rice that attract mosquitoes.

Malaria is caused by a parasite transmitted by mosquitoes. While vaccines are now being used in some areas, the most effective ways to prevent malaria are still avoiding mosquito bites and closely monitoring the disease.