Geographic distribution of multiple sclerosis: An update with special reference to Europe and the Mediterranean region

The geographic distribution of multiple sclerosis (MS) was last reassessed in 1975 with data from 180 surveys from about the world. Since then there have been an additional 54 for which prevalence rates have been measured or estimated. In broad terms the world‐wide distribution of MS still seems best described as comprising three bands or zones of high, medium, and low frequency or risk. For the entire 35 years since World War II, prevalence rates of 30 or more per 100,000 population have defined high frequency, those of 5–29 medium frequency, and those of less than 5 per 100,000 low frequency.

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