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Friday, 8 November, 2024
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Egypt now malaria-free

Egypt has become the fourth African country to eradicate malaria, a “disease that plagued pharaohs”, in what the World Health Organisation (WHO) said was a significant public health milestone that took almost 100 years to achieve.

The country joins Algeria, Cabo Verde and Mauritius in a group of 44 malaria-free countries.

About 90% of the deaths from the worlds estimated 200m cases of malaria occur in sub-Saharan Africa, with children under five being the most affected, reports News24.

Pharoahs illness

Malaria in Egypt can be traced back to around 4000 BC. DNA evidence shows that Tutankhamun caught multiple malarial infections during his life.

Numerous other mummified bodies have tested positive for malaria.

Egypt’s first attempts to lessen human-mosquito contact started in the 1920s when the nation outlawed growing rice and other crops close to residential areas.

Given that 40% of Egyptians live along the banks of the Nile River, and since the disease is highly prevalent there, Egypt declared malaria to be a communicable disease in 1930 and established its first malaria control station, which specialised in diagnosis, treatment and surveillance.

According to WHO, due to various circumstances, including population dislocation from World War 2, disruptions to medical supplies and services, and the invasion of Anopheles arabiensis, a highly effective mosquito vector, malaria cases in Egypt increased to more than 3m by 1942.

The country was able to contain the outbreak by hiring more than 4 000 healthcare workers and establishing 16 treatment stations.

Another risk arose in 1969. After the Aswan Dam was constructed, it gave mosquitoes a lifeline in stagnant waters, and Egypt partnered with its neighbour Sudan to deal with the public health crisis.

To date, malaria treatment is provided free of charge no matter what ones legal status is in the country.

 

News24 article – 'Disease that plagued pharaohs': Egypt joins elite group of malaria-free nations in Africa (Restricted access)

 

See more from MedicalBrief archives:

 

Cape Verde reaches malaria-free milestone

 

Leaders urged to commit to stalled malaria-free Africa initiative

 

Malaria eradication goals remain out of reach — WHO report

 

Zambia takes strides towards eradication of malaria

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