On and around this day hundreds of patient organisations from more than 60 countries and regions worldwide are planning awareness-raising activities converging around the slogan “Rare Disorders without Borders”
There are a surprisingly large number of rare diseases. Although individually they may be rare, between them they affect a lot of people and this is the 'paradox of rarity' - it is not unusual to have a rare disease. In Europe for example a 'rare' disease is defined as a disease that affects fewer than 1 in 2,000 people and yet about 30 million people, or between 6 and 8% of the European population suffer from a rare disease.
(Figures from “Rare Diseases: understanding this Public Health Priority”)
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