Egypt has been certified Malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO), a milestone praised as "truly historic." Malaria, a disease that dates back to ancient Egyptian civilization, is now officially part of Egypt's history, according to WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Egypt began efforts to eliminate Malaria nearly 100 years ago. Certification is granted when a country proves that there has been no malaria transmission for at least three consecutive years.

Malaria kills over 600,000 people each year, mostly in Africa. Egypt is the third country in the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Region to receive this certification, following the United Arab Emirates and Morocco. Globally, 44 countries and one territory have achieved this milestone.

The WHO commended the Egyptian government and its people for their commitment to ending the disease. However, the agency emphasized that Egypt must remain vigilant to maintain its Malaria-free status.

Efforts to control Malaria in Egypt began in the 1920s, including a ban on rice cultivation near homes to limit human-mosquito contact. Malaria is caused by a parasite spread through mosquito bites. While vaccines are now available in some areas, avoiding mosquito bites and monitoring the disease remain the most effective ways to prevent it.