WHO and Encephalitis International Release Technical Brief on Growing Global Encephalitis Threat

Encephalitis International, a leading nonprofit organization, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), released a critical technical brief on encephalitis in recognition of World Encephalitis Day on February 22, 2025. This comprehensive brief highlights the escalating global threat of encephalitis, a potentially fatal inflammation of the brain, and stresses the urgent need for action to mitigate its growing impact on public health worldwide.

Encephalitis as a Rising Global Health Threat

Encephalitis is increasingly recognized as a significant global health issue due to its high mortality, disability burden, and substantial economic consequences. The WHO-commissioned technical brief outlines essential actions aimed at improving prevention strategies, diagnostics, treatment protocols, aftercare, public awareness, and ongoing research into this life-threatening condition. With a focus on saving lives and reducing long-term disability, the brief urges healthcare professionals, policymakers, and global health stakeholders to adopt its recommendations and address the gaps in care and research.

Dr. Ava Easton, Chief Executive of Encephalitis International, emphasized the urgency of the situation: “Encephalitis is an increasing global threat. Without urgent attention and investment, we will see more needless deaths and disability from the condition. This Technical Brief is a critical step toward addressing gaps in awareness, diagnosis, and treatment.”

Dr. Tarun Dua, Head of WHO's Brain Health Unit, reiterated the need for urgent global collaboration to strengthen surveillance, improve diagnosis, and enhance care: “By expanding access to timely and accurate diagnosis and ensuring that encephalitis is prioritized within national healthcare frameworks, we can improve outcomes for millions worldwide.”

Factors Driving the Global Rise in Encephalitis Cases

Several key factors are contributing to the growing prevalence of encephalitis around the globe:

• Increasing Population Density: Overcrowded areas, particularly in resource-limited settings, face challenges in preventing and treating encephalitis due to healthcare shortages and crowded living conditions.
• Emerging and Re-emerging Infections: New and reactivated pathogens pose significant risks, complicating efforts to diagnose and control encephalitis outbreaks.
• Vaccine Hesitancy: Reduced immunization coverage is weakening protection against preventable forms of encephalitis, contributing to disease resurgence.
• Climate Change: Changing environmental conditions are expanding the habitats of vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks, increasing the risk of vector-borne encephalitis.
• Urbanization: The expansion of urban areas into natural habitats increases human exposure to animal-borne pathogens, while also stressing healthcare systems.

Addressing the Hidden Burden in Low-to-Middle-Income Countries

The true global burden of encephalitis remains largely unknown, especially in low-to-middle-income countries (LMICs) like the Philippines, where health resources are often limited. In these regions, specialized neurological care is scarce, and patients may need to travel long distances to receive treatment. Many areas suffer from inadequate supply chains for essential medications, further compounding the challenges.

The economic and social impact is also profound. The cost of treatment, combined with long-term brain damage and the loss of income, places an immense burden on affected families. Addressing encephalitis in LMICs requires targeted research, stronger health systems, and better access to affordable care.

A Multidimensional Approach to Combat Encephalitis

To reduce the global burden of encephalitis, a multifaceted approach is essential. This includes:

• Vaccination Strategies: Ensuring that effective vaccines are available and widely distributed to prevent preventable causes of encephalitis.
• Surveillance and Early Detection: Strengthening systems to identify and respond to outbreaks of encephalitis quickly and effectively.
• Improved Public Awareness: Educating the public to recognize symptoms early, which is crucial for reducing delays in diagnosis and treatment.
• Collaboration: Governments, healthcare systems, and researchers must work together to address the complex challenges posed by encephalitis.
• 
  

Professor Tom Solomon CBE, President of Encephalitis International, highlighted that improving diagnosis and treatment of encephalitis is not necessarily expensive: “A lot of it is about increasing surveillance, recognition of the condition, and ensuring that basic treatments are available.”

A Call to Action: "Countdown to Change" Campaign

To support the goals outlined in the technical brief, Encephalitis International has launched a fundraising campaign called “Countdown to Change.” The campaign aims to raise £50,000 (approximately ₱3,667,260) to fund initiatives that will help implement the necessary actions to reduce encephalitis-related morbidity and mortality.

The WHO-commissioned Technical Brief can be accessed and downloaded from the official websites of the World Health Organization and Encephalitis International.

 

The technical brief by WHO and Encephalitis International marks a pivotal moment in the global fight against encephalitis. By addressing the growing threat of this disease with a coordinated approach focused on prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and awareness, we can reduce its devastating impact and save lives worldwide.

Key Actions to Combat Encephalitis:

Improve vaccination coverage

Strengthen surveillance systems

Enhance public education on early symptoms and treatments

Prioritize encephalitis in national health agendas

Foster international collaboration to tackle this growing health crisis