Egypt has officially been declared a malaria-free region. The World Health Organization (WHO) congratulated the government in Cairo and handed it a certificate.
“Malaria is as old as Egyptian civilization, but the disease that plagued the pharaohs is now part of its history, not its future,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Worldwide, 44 countries and one territory have been certified as malaria-free.
Tutankhamun was already suffering from malaria
Scientists have shown that malaria existed in Egypt since at least 4000 BC. Among other things, the disease was found in the mummy of Tutankhamun, a pharaoh who ruled from around 1332 to 1323 BC.
According to WHO, Egypt has demonstrated that the chain of domestic malaria transmission by Anopheles mosquitoes has been interrupted for at least three years. This is achieved through rigorous monitoring, the consistent elimination of breeding sites and protection against mosquito bites. To receive WHO certification, a country must also demonstrate its ability to prevent transmissions from returning.
Potentially fatal disease
The disease is caused by parasites transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes. It presents with high fever, chills, headaches and muscle pain. It can be fatal, especially for small children and weakened adults.
