Egypt retains WHO accreditation as measles and rubella free country

CAIRO – 20 February 2026: Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Health and Population, has received an official communication from Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, confirming that Egypt has maintained its status as a "measles and rubella-free" nation through 2024.

This unanimous decision by the Regional Verification Committee marks Egypt’s third consecutive year of maintaining this status since its initial verification in 2022.

The Committee’s decision followed a comprehensive review of epidemiological data and a national report submitted by Egypt during a high-level meeting in Cairo in December 2025. This achievement serves as international recognition of the resilience and efficacy of the Egyptian health system, bolstered by the commitment of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to safeguarding public health.

The announcement solidifies Egypt’s leading position within the Eastern Mediterranean in the elimination of vaccine-preventable diseases and underscores its capacity to protect future generations from infectious threats.

The World Health Organization (WHO) commended the sustainability of Egypt's success, specifically noting the efficiency of the Expanded Program on Immunization and the precision of the national epidemiological surveillance system. The WHO highlighted significant improvements in outbreak investigations and infection source identification, affirming its continued technical support for Egypt's health initiatives.

Egypt’s success is attributed to a robust surveillance infrastructure that generates high-quality technical reports, a rapid-response capacity for suspected cases, and a sustained national commitment to comprehensive vaccination campaigns that ensure community-wide protection.