Egypt Secures WHO Certification as Measles, Rubella-Free for Third Consecutive Year

World Health Organization has officially renewed Egypt’s status as a country free from measles and rubella for 2024, marking the third consecutive year the country has maintained the internationally verified elimination status.

The confirmation was delivered in an official letter addressed to Health and Population Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar from Dr. Hanan Balkhy, Regional Director of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region. 

The decision follows a unanimous endorsement by the Regional Verification Commission, which reviewed Egypt’s epidemiological data and national report during its meeting in Cairo in December 2025.

Egypt first achieved measles and rubella elimination verification in 2022. The latest renewal confirms the country’s continued compliance with WHO standards for interrupting endemic transmission of both diseases.

According to the Ministry of Health and Population, the decision came after a comprehensive assessment of surveillance performance, outbreak investigation quality, laboratory confirmation standards, and immunization coverage rates.

The WHO praised Egypt’s Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), describing it as efficient and sustainable, and commended the robustness and precision of the national epidemiological surveillance system. The organization also highlighted measurable improvements in outbreak investigations and source-tracing mechanisms.

Officials said the renewed certification underscores the resilience of Egypt’s healthcare system and its sustained capacity to protect current and future generations from vaccine-preventable diseases. It also reinforces the country’s standing as a regional leader in disease elimination within the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Health authorities attributed the achievement to a high-performance surveillance network capable of producing detailed technical reporting, alongside rapid-response mechanisms for suspected cases. Continuous national commitment to vaccination campaigns and maintaining broad, sustainable immunization coverage were cited as central pillars of the success.

The WHO confirmed it will continue to provide technical support to Egypt’s health system to ensure the preservation of elimination status and to strengthen preparedness against potential cross-border health threats.