The World Health Organisation has certified Egypt as malaria-free, following a 100-year national effort to eradicate the disease. Rose Dykins reports

Egypt has achieved a significant public health milestone and been certified as malaria-free by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Egypt's good news follows a 100-year effort by the Egyptian government to end malaria, which has been present in the country since ancient times. The disease has been traced back as far as 4000 B.C.E in Egypt, and genetic evidence of it has been found in the presence of ancient Egyptian mummies, including Tutankhamun.

In the 1920s, efforts began to reduce human-mosquito contact in Egypt when the country banned the cultivation of rice and agricultural crops near homes. With the majority of Egypt's population living along the banks of the Nile River, and malaria prevalence as high as 40%, the country categorised malaria as a "notifiable disease" in 1930, and later opened its first malaria control station focused on diagnosis, treatment and surveillance.

A country receives certification of malaria elimination from WHO when it has proven beyond reasonable doubt that the chain of indigenous malaria transmission by Anopheles mosquitoes has been interrupted nationwide – for at least the previous three consecutive years. The nation must also demonstrate it had the capacity to prevent the re-establishment of transmission.

Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean region, says: “Today, Egypt has proven that with vision, dedication, and unity we can overcome the greatest challenges. This success in eliminating malaria is not just a victory for public health but a sign of hope for the entire world, especially for other endemic countries in our region.

"This achievement is the result of sustained, robust surveillance investments in a strong, integrated health system, where community engagement and partnerships have enabled progress. Furthermore, collaboration and support to endemic countries, such as Sudan, remain a priority."

The eradication of malaria not only benefits a country's public health, but has positive implications for its economy. Malaria-endemic countries typically lose approximately US$12 billion annually in GDP. The disease costs up to 20% of household incomes and 40% of government health spending in these countries, where there is lower productivity due to the illness, premature deaths and increased public health spending all among the outcomes.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation continues to push ahead with its quest to eradicate malaria globally, and Bill Gates recently stated that within the next five to eight years, "we'll have the transformational tools to make eradication possible."

Tourism destinations are also exploring innovative ways to reduce their mosquito populations and control the spread of associated diseases. For example, in the Maldives, Soneva Fushi has implemented a chemical-free system - deploying dedicated mosquito hunters and 500 traps - which has reduced the island's mosquito population by 98%. Meanwhile, Necker Island is also known for its year-round mosquito deterrence approach and efforts to control the spread of mosquito-borne diseases among the local population as part of its BugOut BVI programme.