The BBC reported that Egypt is officially malaria-free. World Health Organization (WHO), which hailed the accomplishment as “truly historical,” praised the nearly century-long efforts of the WHO to eliminate the disease. The disease which plagued Egypt’s pharaohs is now part of its past, according to WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Egypt has been fighting the infectious mosquito-borne disease for almost 100 years. A country is certified if it can demonstrate that the spread of malaria has been stopped for three years in a row. Malaria claims at least 600,000. The vast majority are Africans. In its statement, the WHO praised “the Egyptian Government and People” for their efforts to “end the disease which has existed in Egypt since ancient times.” Egypt has become the third country certified by the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, after the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Morocco. In total, 44 countries plus one territory worldwide have achieved this milestone. WHO stressed that the certification marked “the start of a new stage” and urged Egypt to stay vigilant to maintain its status as a malaria-free country. A country’s ability to stop the spread of malaria is required for certification. WHO noted that Egypt began its efforts to limit human-mosquito contact in the 1920s by restricting crops and rice near residential areas. Vaccines are now available in some areas to combat malaria caused by a parasite transmitted via mosquito bites. Monitoring the disease and preventing mosquito bites are the best preventative measures. Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, Egypt’s Minister of Health, said: “This isn’t the end but just the beginning. We must work diligently and tirelessly to maintain our success by maintaining the highest surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment standards. During World War II, the displacement of population in Egypt caused malaria to reach over 3 million cases. The construction of the Aswan Dam in 1960 also increased malaria risk by creating breeding areas for mosquitoes through standing water. WHO reports that Egypt brought malaria under “firm control” by 2001. Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda are the countries that continue to have the most malaria cases.
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