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Review
. 2023 Nov 30;77(11):1552-1560.
doi: 10.1093/cid/ciad417.

Global Landscape of Encephalitis: Key Priorities to Reduce Future Disease Burden

Julia Granerod  1   2 , Yun Huang  1   3   4 , Nicholas W S Davies  5 , Patricia C Sequeira  6 , Victor Mwapasa  7 , Priscilla Rupali  8 , Benedict D Michael  1   3   4 , Tom Solomon  1   3   4   9 , Ava Easton  1   10
Affiliations
Review

Global Landscape of Encephalitis: Key Priorities to Reduce Future Disease Burden

Julia Granerod et al. Clin Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Encephalitis affects people across the lifespan, has high rates of mortality and morbidity, and results in significant neurological sequelae with long-term consequences to quality of life and wider society. The true incidence is currently unknown due to inaccurate reporting systems. The disease burden of encephalitis is unequally distributed across the globe being highest in low- and middle-income countries where resources are limited. Here countries often lack diagnostic testing, with poor access to essential treatments and neurological services, and limited surveillance and vaccination programs. Many types of encephalitis are vaccine preventable, whereas others are treatable with early diagnosis and appropriate management. In this viewpoint, we provide a narrative review of key aspects of diagnosis, surveillance, treatment, and prevention of encephalitis and highlight priorities for public health, clinical management, and research, to reduce the disease burden.

Keywords: burden; diagnosis; encephalitis; treatment; vaccination.

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Conflict of interest statement

Potential conflicts of interest. T. S. reports royalties for text and non-fiction books from Oxford University Press, Elsevier, Liverpool University Press, and Cambridge University Press; consulting fees from Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA); a pending patent for bacterial meningitis test (no. GB1606537); participation on a Data Safety Monitoring Committee for GSK; participation on advisory boards for GSK (advisor to Ebola Vaccine Programme and Siemens Diagnostic Programme), Siemens (Healthineers Chair), WHO (Neruro-COVID Task force co-chair), UK Government (Dangerous Pathogens Committee), MHRA (Expert Working Group on COVID-19 vaccines), UK COVID-19 Therapeutics Panel, Commission on Human Medicines Committee of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (COVID-19 Vaccines Benefit Risk Expert Working Group); and previously held shares of Medefer Solutions. NWSD reports participation as Chair of the external review panel for Encephlg trial (IRAS ID 280904) and Chair of the Scientific Advisory Panel for the Encephalitis Society. J. G. reports contracts with a range of clients through their consultancy business and has in the past received consultancy fees from the Encephalitis Society. A. E. is the CEO of The Encephalitis Society and reports society-received charitable grants from Pfizer, CSL Behring, Bavarian Nordic, Snofi, UC, and Valneva; royalties from an authored book; institutional payments for speaking engagements from Valneva, Pfizer, and Eurolmmun. B. D. M. reports honoraria for presentations at SCRIPPS and University of Massachusetts; payment for expert testimony for Midicolegal work; and a role as Vice Chair of the Scientific Advisory Panel for the Encephalitis Society. All other authors report no potential conflicts. All authors have submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Conflicts that the editors consider relevant to the content of the manuscript have been disclosed.

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