World Encephalitis Day 2025
Encephalitis – A Growing Global Threat : Global Policy Launch
Join us virtually (online) to the official launch of the World Health Organization’s technical brief on Encephalitis.
Dr Ava Easton, Chief Executive of Encephalitis International is thrilled to host the official launch of the World Health Organization’s technical brief on Encephalitis, which was funded by Encephalitis International.
The event will feature a panel of experts including Dr Nicoline Schiess from the World Health Organization.
The event is aimed at anyone with an interest in encephalitis including media, health professionals, people affected, their families, carers. Everyone is welcome.
The event will be live-streamed and will highlight what global future actions are needed to help reduce death and disability from encephalitis. (Please note that the event is being recorded).
Get involved in World Encephalitis Day 2025!
World Encephalitis Day is the biggest day of the year for people whose lives have been affected by inflammation of the brain. Since its launch in 2014, World Encephalitis Day has reached 628 million people globally in our efforts to grow global awareness of encephalitis.
On Saturday, 22nd February 2025, it will be the 12th anniversary of our global awareness day and to celebrate this wonderful occasion we need supporters to help us shine a light on encephalitis.
During the past decade, World Encephalitis Day has been championed by people from all around the world – and we hope you will again be able to join us for what promises to be a fantastic and fun February.
So, how can you get involved? Well, it is as easy as 1, 2, 3…
And if you need any resources to share with your community, please download
or order a Red4Wed T-shirt from our Shop
1. Go #Red4WED
Every year we ask our supporters to wear something red on World Encephalitis Day and then share their photos or videos on social media, telling their followers about why they are wearing red.
On 22nd February, wearing something red could mean anything – a red bow tie, red hat, red nails, red trousers or our official World Encephalitis Day t shirts which you can purchase from our online shop.
If you are going #Red4WED and sharing your photo or video on social media, please use the campaign hashtag #Red4WED so we can share it on our official World Encephalitis Day website.
Or, for the camera shy among you, we will also have our Five Facts social media posts which will be available to download from mid-January.
Need Inspiration?
Email fundraising@encephalitis.info if you or your organisation need official World Encephalitis Day t-shirts or our Five Facts social media assets.
2. Light up a Landmark
On 22nd February 2025, we are asking supporters to help us turn the world #Red4WED by lighting up well-known local landmarks red.
In 2024, 249 landmarks and buildings across 29 countries went #Red4WED, including Niagara Falls, The Lotus Tower in Sri Lanka, The CCLEX Bridge in the Philippines, Kings Cross Station, London and the Olympic Park in Montreal Canada, to name a few!
How can I get involved?
Do you live near a famous local landmark? Can your place of work light up #Red4WED?
Download Light up a Building Request Letter or get in touch with us and help us to shine a light on encephalitis!
If you are able to secure a building lighting up #Red4WED, please do let us know so we can count it towards our official WED buildings portfolio!
Here are the buildings ready to go RED for WED 2025
3. Support our World Encephalitis Day Appeal
Countdown to Change
It has been over 5 years since we first began our efforts to engage the World Health Organization (WHO) to support our work following the publication of the Global Impact Report. In 2025 they intend to publish a technical briefing on encephalitis to engage policymakers and public health officials.
Fundraising
This year we are proud to launch our World Encephalitis Day Fund. Marking the pinnacle of our work with the WHO, this fund will enact on the solutions they propose for better awareness, research and support globally. We need your help to kickstart this fund by raising £50,000 by World Encephalitis Day.
Last year our amazing World Encephalitis Day fundraisers raised nearly £10,000 towards our appeal. From office bake sales to team challenges we would love for you to set up a fundraiser for WED and you can link this to our main appeal page.
Donate
Our appeal will be live from the 1st February 2025, we need your support no matter how small or big and the more people we can reach with the appeal the better so please share with your networks!
Head to our appeal page to support today!
WED - Official Partners
Encephalitis International is proud to be delivering this year’s World Encephalitis Day in collaboration with several generous corporate supporters.
We have a range of campaign partnership opportunities and can be flexible for what suits your organisation.
WED - Highlights
Take a look back at highlights from our previous World Encephalitis Day campaigns
