29 February 2020 will be the thirteenth international Rare Disease Day coordinated by EURORDIS.
On and around this day hundreds of patient organisations from countries and regions all over the world will hold awareness-raising activities.
Rare Disease Day raises awareness for the 300 million people living with rare disease around the world and their families and carers.
Rare diseases currently affect 3.5% – 5.9% of the worldwide population.
72% of rare diseases are genetic whilst others are the result of infections (bacterial or viral), allergies and environmental causes, or are degenerative and proliferative.
70% of those genetic rare diseases start in childhood.
Post Polio Syndrome is a rare disease and polio survivors throughout Europe are supporting the EURODIS publicity, saying ‘We’re Still Here’.