1 May 2025, Cairo, Egypt – In December 2024, Egypt became the first country in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to achieve hepatitis B control status.

Egypt's success in reducing hepatitis B prevalence to less than 1% among children aged 5 and above, and in maintaining vaccination coverage of over 90% for both the birth and third dose, is the result of decades of sustained efforts. Egypt has enhanced its health care infrastructure, conducted robust vaccination programmes for newborns, strengthened surveillance and infection control systems and undertaken widespread public awareness campaigns.

Egypt has also strengthened its laboratory capacity and health care professional training, and successfully ensured access to affordable treatment. Throughout this journey, WHO has provided technical support and guidance to align Egypt’s strategies with global standards.

In 2023, Egypt became the first country to achieve the Gold Tier status on the path to elimination of hepatitis C as per WHO criteria. Egypt’s pioneering record in tackling viral hepatitis and reducing the burden of liver disease and its complications is a testimony to its dedication to public health and serves as a practical infectious disease control model for other countries.