The World Health Organization recognized Egypt on Sunday, October 20, as a malaria-free country.
“This achievement is the result of almost 100 years of efforts by the Egyptian government and people to eradicate a disease that has been present in the country since ancient times. “Malaria is as old as Egyptian civilization itself, but the disease that tormented the pharaohs now belongs to their history, not their future.” – says a statement on the organization’s website.
Egypt has become the third country in the region to receive a malaria-free certificate. The first were the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Morocco. In total, 44 countries and one territory have reached this milestone around the world.
To receive a certificate from the WHO, a country must present evidence that the chain of malaria transmission has been interrupted for at least the last three years. The country must also demonstrate its ability to prevent the resumption of transmission, Izvestia clarifies.
