International MS Week in Basel, Switzerland.

An ancient university town in Switzerland was the setting for the world's first International MS Week in September. Members and delegates from 5 MS organizations gathered in Basel's ultramodern convention center. Nearly 3,000 people attended: researchers, physical therapists, fund raisers, social workers, administrators, neurologists, and, everywhere, people with MS.

"Your organizations put MS on the world's public health agenda," said Dr. Benedetto Saraceno of the World Health Organization, in an opening address. "You show the public what MS looks like, what can be done to treat it, and how much people with MS can do."

Many speakers called for an end to social and economic taboos about disability and chronic disease that affect the 2.5 million people around the world who live with MS.

Highlights:

Dr. Brian Weinshenker announced outcomes of the study he conducted using plasma exchange to rescue patients from catastrophic MS attacks. (See page 44.)

CMSC announced a new international online journal for MS health-care professionals, edited by Dr. Robert Herndon. See <www.mscare.com>.

The MS Big 5

The International Federation of MS Societies (IFMSS) links voluntary organizations from 38 nations, including America's National MS Society, in an association to help members share ideas and solutions. CMSC, or the Consortium of MS Centers, is the North American organization for health-care professionals who provide care for people with MS. Its European counterpart is RIMS, or Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis. Basic and clinical MS researchers collaborate in ECTRIMS and ACTRIMS (European--or American--Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis).