Malaria remains one of the most devastating parasitic diseases on the African continent. Each year, this infection transmitted by mosquitoes claims more than 600,000 lives, the majority of them in sub-Saharan Africa. Children pay the heaviest price: every two minutes, a child succumbs to this disease. The deadly combination of poverty, lack of access to care and climate conditions favorable to mosquitoes makes malaria a major health challenge for many African countries.
A historic victory against an age-old scourge
Egypt has just won a century-old battle against malaria, thus joining the restricted circle of 44 nations having eradicated this disease from their territory. This success marks a decisive turning point for this country where the parasite has been rampant since the times of the pharaohs. LThe World Health Organization (WHO) has officially certified Egypt as a malaria-free zone, confirming that no local cases have been detected in the last three years.
A successful multi-pronged strategy
To achieve this victory, Egypt deployed a complete arsenal of preventive and curative measures. The country has waged a merciless war against disease-carrying mosquitoes, combining large-scale spraying of insecticides and drying of swampy areas. The distribution of impregnated mosquito nets and the strengthening of the health system completed this approach. This Egyptian success contrasts with the situation of other African countries, such as Democratic Republic of Congowhere lack of infrastructure and conflicts hamper the fight against the disease.
Persistent challenges in the face of climate change
Despite this promising progress, the total eradication of malaria in Africa remains complex. Global warming is changing the situation: Higher temperatures and increased precipitation lengthen the breeding season of mosquitoes and expand their habitat areas. Parasites develop resistance to treatments, while new species of mosquitoes colonize urban areas. Faced with these obstacles, vaccination could offer a solution, but its cost – between $24 and $40 per child for a complete treatment – and the need to administer four doses make it difficult to access for the most vulnerable populations.
Health
