Proud to Support World Encephalitis Day

On February 22, join in the inaugural annual awareness day to connect thousands of people around the world, enabling a better understanding of the devastation that can be caused by Encephalitis.

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain and can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere, at any age. This brain injury can be triggered by many causes, including the cold sore virus, mosquitoes,  or auto-immune disorders. However more than 50% of causes are unknown. And there is no cure. This illness affects 20,000 people per year in the U.S. and an estimated 500,000 across the globe with a mortality rate of 20%.  

The cost of encephalitis is high. In the U.S., the costs of hospitalization have doubled to $2 billion per year, which does not include care of physicians, treatments or therapies. Also, more than half of survivors are unable to return to the workplace, reducing their annual income by 70%.

Research and treatment make a difference, however in the absence of standardized and well-defined treatment protocols, many survivors are often left to manage their own recovery. With an unclear treatment path, many unnecessarily suffer with debilitating headaches, paralyzing exhaustion, challenges walking and talking, as well as significant problems with memory and concentration.

We want as many people as possible to help distribute potentially life-saving information in their workplace, school, doctors, hospital, library or anywhere else it may be seen. Something as simple as printing and displaying a poster, could help someone access vital information, that might just save a life. For poster and other information, see  www.worldencephalitisday.org. In recognition of World Encephalitis Day, see the agenda for an event hosted near San Diego, California: http://www.encephalitisglobal.org/faces2014.html. And stay tuned for a Dallas-area event for encephalitis survivors on March 1.

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