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Snapshot 1:Mon, Oct 21, 2024 4:52:11 PM GMT last edited by Brian

WHO Declares Egypt 'Malaria-Free'

Above: Mosquito larvae, commonly known as ''wrigglers,'' are aquatic and characterized by a large head, a broad thorax, and a narrow, wormlike abdomen. Image copyright: Soumyabrata Roy/Contributor/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The Facts

  • The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Egypt "malaria-free" on Sunday, stating that the achievement marks the end of a "nearly 100-year effort by the Egyptian government and people."

  • To be considered malaria-free, a country must report no local transmission of the disease for three years. After dealing with malaria since 4,000 B.C., Egypt began its path to eradication in the 1920s by limiting mosquito-attracting agriculture, such as rice.

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