Professor Ruby Pawankar, President of the World Allergy Organization, and Professor Marek L. Kowalski, Chair of the World Allergy Week 2012 Steering Committee, introduce plans for World Allergy Week 2012 (16-22 April) including the theme this year of "The Rising Global Burden of Asthma and Allergic Diseases." As in previous years, WAO is developing resources for its national member societies to use during World Allergy Week 2012, including downloads of the WAO White Book on Allergy, which explains the prevalence, severity and complexity of allergic diseases around the world, addresses the need for increased service provision and specialized training, and sets forth recommendations for meeting the challenges of this global burden. More information is available at www.worldallergy.org/worldallergyweek
