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VOL. 35 • NO.3 • JUNE-JULY 2020 THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE WORLD FEDERATION OF NEUROLOGY PRESIDENT’S COLUMN In the Midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic ince my last column, the and Zika emergencies, is the individual member neurologists have COVID-19 pandemic concatenation of the modern remained safe and in good health. Happily, S has spread through most world by the internet. While the London office staff have done so developed countries courtesy the world looks for a more and the same applies to the trustees and of international travel, tourism, unified inter-governmental officers. and high-density populations. response, peoples of the world, In the meantime, let me outline WFN website is now regularly updated It is now set to decimate less and in particular scientists, the WFN activities during the current with changes being advised by social media. developed countries in South clinicians, and concerned situation. More active use of social media also follows America, Asia, and Africa, WILLIAM citizens, have joined a multitude each monthly trustees teleconference on CARROLL, MD consequent upon insufficient of international, regional, and Communication the second Thursday of the month. It is resources and less sophisticated global groups to contribute to The WFN has implemented a program to hoped that members will visit the WFN public health services. Those least well- the care, surveillance, and data collection improve the communication between the website more frequently and advise the resourced countries face, like in epidemics of those affected. Through the internet London office and its members. In a time London office of necessary changes to their of old, the twin blights of the epidemic and modern communications, infection when communication is so important, it contact details. and economic collapse and risk ensuing rates, mortality rates, and survival rates has been heartening to see the response The WFN is participating with the anarchy. Even some better-off countries issue daily from most countries irrespective of member societies to this initiative. Brain Health Unit of the WHO in its have pursued different strategies in of denominators. Most of us are involved Once complete, and this first part is COVID-19 neuro endeavor and with other balancing the health requirements and in one or more such activities while we almost there, the office will commence a groups interested in collecting data about when to re-open their economies with watch with concern — and at times with rolling dialogue, contacting approximately potential neurological involvement in the differing results now and no doubt differing incredulity — as nations make individual 10 members each month to ensure the course of COVID-19 infection. The WFN’s results in the longer term. decisions to minimize the human and details are current. This will see the Environmental Neurology Specialty Group What is different with this pandemic economic costs of this pandemic. We all details for each of the 122 societies being has advised that it will be keeping a registry and the plagues and epidemics of the past, hope to see a successful formula develop. updated annually. In addition to direct of member societies of members who and even the more recent SARS, Ebola, The WFN also hopes that all of its communication by email and phone, the see PRESIDENT’S COLUMN page 7 INSIDE Long-Haul COVID DISEASES OF CIVILIZATION AND NERVOUS DISORDER BY AVINDRA NATH AND B. JEANNE BILLIOUX or “Long-Tail COVID.” Many of these IN THE AGE OF patients are health care workers who ENLIGHTENMENT t is becoming increasingly apparent had massive exposure to the virus early PAGE 3 that many patients who recovered from in the pandemic and describe having I the acute phase of the SARS-CoV-2 symptoms for 100+ days. Since many of CANDIDATE STATEMENTS infection have persistent symptoms. the symptoms are neurological in nature, FOR ELECTED TRUSTEE This includes clouding of mentation, these patients are seeking us out for help. PAGES 4-6 sleep disturbances, exercise intolerance, It is important that we characterize these WFN/FINE AVINDRA B. JEANNE and autonomic symptoms. (See Tables patients and try to document the objective NEUROINFECTION SERIES NATH BILLIOUX 1 and 2 on page 3.) Some also complain findings and then determine how best to PAGE 7 of temperature dysregulation and study their pathophysiology to develop lymphadenopathy. Although there are no proper guidelines for treatment. CONFERENCE REPORT: peer-reviewed papers at the moment on Most of these patients were in MULTIDISCIPLINARY these patients, many news articles have excellent health prior to getting infected STRATEGIES TO PREVENT been written about this phenomenon1-4 with SARS-CoV-2. They all had myriad AND COMBAT BRAIN and apparently there are Facebook pages symptoms during the acute phase; DISEASES where there are several thousand patients however, as the fever and respiratory PAGE 10 with these symptoms. They describe symptoms improved, they are left with themselves as the “Long-Haul-COVID” see LONG-HAUL COVID page 3 2 WWW.WFNEUROLOGY.ORG • JUNE-JULY 2020 FROM THE EDITORS BY STEVEN L. LEWIS, MD, EDITOR, AND WALTER STRUHAL, MD, CO-EDITOR Caplan (a remarkable combination of world-renowned stroke experts in the e would like to welcome all same sentence). Dr. Chandrashekhar neurologists around the world to Meshram announces the webinar series W the June/July 2020 issue of World on neuroinfectious diseases cosponsored Neurology, and again hope you are all well by the Tropical and Geographical Editors-in-Chief during this trying and remarkable time. Neurology Specialty Group of the WFN Steven L. Lewis (Editor) This issue begins with the message STEVEN L. WALTE R in collaboration with the Forum for Indian Walter Struhal (Co-editor) from the president of the World LEWIS, MD STRUHAL, MD Neurology Education (FINE) occurring WFN London Office Federation of Neurology (WFN), Dr. from July to September 2020 and for which Chester House Fulham Green 81-83 Fulham High St., London SW6 3JA William Carroll, informing us of the by some afflicted patients as “long-haul all interested neurologists are encouraged United Kingdom ongoing activities of the WFN and COVID.” to participate Tel.: +44 (0)20 3542 1657/1658 Fax: +44 (0)20 3 542 1301 our London office, particularly with Dr. John England, in his update as Finally, and importantly, this issue [email protected] regard to communication (including editor-in-chief of the Journal of Neurological includes the statements from the six WFN OFFICERS about informing members worldwide Sciences (JNS), the official journal of candidates for the next open position for President William Carroll (Australia) about COVID-19 infection), education the WFN, provides us with news of the elected trustee of the WFN, provided in First Vice President Ryuji Kaji (Japan) Secretary General Wolfgang Grisold (Austria) (including an upcoming eLearning day tremendous increase in impact factor alphabetical order. Treasurer Richard Stark (Australia) with AFAN), promotion (especially about of this important journal. Please join us We would like to reiterate our wishes ELECTED TRUSTEES World Brain Day which began July 22), in congratulating Dr. England and his to all for safety and health for you, your Riadh Gouider (Tunisia) the upcoming Annual General Meeting entire editorial team for this wonderful families, colleagues, and patients. For Alla Guekht (Russia) Steven L. Lewis (USA) (AGM) of the Council of Delegates to be accomplishment. In this issue’s history global neurology-related COVID-19 th held September 9, 2020, and the exciting column, Dr. Peter J. Koehler describes 18 resources and information, please CO-OPTED TRUSTEE Marianne de Visser (The Netherlands) announcement that Prof. Marianne de century historical thoughts with regard to continue to refer to the new page on Visser has now been named a co-opted the relationship between civilization and our website: https://wfneurology.org/ REGIONAL DIRECTORS Maged Abdel Naseer (Pan-Arab) WFN trustee. disease, particularly neurologic disease. covid-19-and-world-neurology. James C.Stevens (North America) In this issue we are again privileged WFN secretary-general Wolfgang Finally, this issue is going to press just Claudio Bassetti (Europe) Marco Tulio Medina (Latin America) to have an update on COVID-19 written Grisold provides a detailed report on a as World Brain Day 2020, a collaboration Beomseok Jeon (Asian-Oceania) by Drs. Avindra Nath and B. Jeanne conference held at the end of 2019 (and between the WFN and the International Foad Abd-Allah (Pan-Africa) Billioux from the Section of Infections just before the COVID-19 era) in Moscow Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL of the Nervous System at the United focusing on multidisciplinary strategies to is underway. It began on July 22, 2020 and OF THE NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES John England (USA) States National Institute of Neurological prevent and combat brain diseases. Also is extending for weeks thereafter, devoted Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), who in this issue, Dr. Vladamir Hachinski, to raising awareness for and ending describe what is currently known and past-president of the WFN, reviews the Parkinson’s Disease. We all look forward to mostly unknown about the long-term recently published biography on Dr. C. updates from member societies in the next sequelae of COVID-19, currently termed Miller Fisher written by Dr. Louis R. issue(s) of World Neurology. • WORLD NEUROLOGY, an official publication of the World Federation of Neurology, provides reports INTERNATIONAL from the leadership of the WFN, its member societ- JOURNAL OF THE NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES ies, neurologists around the globe, and news from MEETINGS & EVENTS the cutting-edge of clinical neurology. Content for World Neurology is provided by the World Federa- tion of Neurology and Ascend Integrated Media. New JNS Metrics Released 8th Joint Meeting Disclaimer: Articles in World Neurology represent BY JOHN D.