22 February 2026

World Encephalitis Day – 22 February 2026

A day to reflect on encephalitis

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A day to reflect on encephalitis

Encephalitis, or brain inflammation, is a disease you usually only hear about when it invades your life or that of a loved one. Suddenly. Uninvited.

With encephalitis, your brain is on fire. You don’t always see what follows on the outside. But it’s there. Memory that lets you down. Fatigue that overwhelms everything. Overstimulation. Personality changes. Epilepsy. Physical limitations. A new life you never chose.

Together with people affected by encephalitis, we are putting a face to this disease to raise awareness. People who are learning anew every day to cope with what has changed. People finding their way in the new version of themselves.

You may not feel like a hero. But your strength, your perseverance, your vulnerability makemakes visible what this disease means.

Today we stand side by side. Visible. Connected. Together. Because your story matters. And together we make awareness greater than silence.
The power of WE is stronger than the power of ME.

Also read

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31 March 2026
Research project ‘Identifying new pathogenic antibodies leading to autoimmune encephalitis’ successfully completed

Team Human Tech, in collaboration with Erasmus MC and under the supervision of Dr Oliver Harschnitz, has created a new model of human brain cells from the cerebral cortex to better understand what happens in autoimmune encephalitis and to test antibodies from patients.

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1 March 2026
Registration for Run with ME now open

On 31 May 2026, students from Rotterdam, together with ItsME, organise the Run with ME. It is more than just a running event. It is about getting active together for people affected by encephalitis or meningitis.

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24 January 2026
Care for ME 2026 – 24 January

A day of recognition and connection. For and by those affected by meningitis and encephalitis, and their loved ones.

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31 March 2026
Research project ‘Identifying new pathogenic antibodies leading to autoimmune encephalitis’ successfully completed

A significant breakthrough is the discovery of a new antibody, the SEZ6L2 antibody, in patients…

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1 March 2026
Registration for Run with ME now open

You choose your own distance and run through the heart of Rotterdam. At your own pace….

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24 January 2026
Care for ME 2026 – 24 January

On January 24th, we organised the fourth edition of the Allies Day Care for ME. A…