In a statement on Sunday, the WHO praised the “government and people of Egypt” for their efforts to “end a disease that has been present in the country since ancient times.”
It said Egypt became the third country to receive certification in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region, after the United Arab Emirates and Morocco.
In the world, 44 countries and one territory have reached this milestone.
But the WHO said the certification was only “the beginning of a new phase”, urging Egypt to be on alert to maintain its malaria-free status.
To receive WHO certification, a country must demonstrate its ability to prevent the resumption of transmission.
The U.N. health agency said the first efforts to limit human contact with mosquitoes in Egypt began in the 1920s, when rice and other crops near homes were banned.
Malaria is caused by a complex parasite that is spread through mosquito bites.
Vaccines are now used in some places, but disease surveillance and avoiding mosquito bites are the most effective ways to prevent malaria.
