The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a new Blueprint aimed at strengthening global responses to fungal diseases and antifungal resistance, a growing but often overlooked health challenge. The guidance, released on June 30, 2026, outlines practical steps for improving prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance of fungal infections worldwide.

Fungal diseases impact more than 300 million people each year, causing high mortality rates, long-term illness, and significant losses in health and productivity. These diseases range from common ailments like ringworm and nail infections to severe invasive infections that can be fatal, particularly among individuals with weakened immune systems, intensive care patients, people living with HIV, transplant recipients, and cancer patients.

Antifungal resistance is an escalating threat driven by extensive use of antifungal drugs in human, animal, and plant health, as well as environmental exposure to antifungal chemicals. Despite the significant burden, fungal diseases are frequently absent from national health policies, global disease burden estimates, and strategies addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR), universal health coverage, and the One Health initiative.

The Blueprint builds upon WHO’s first Fungal Priority Pathogens List published in 2022, which identified 19 fungal pathogens or pathogen groups requiring urgent research, development, and public health action. It was developed through a multi-stage process involving consultations with over 150 experts worldwide, including specialists in clinical mycology, diagnostics, stewardship, surveillance, regulatory policy, public health, and patient advocacy.

The release follows the recent adoption by WHO’s decision-making body, the World Health Assembly, of an updated Global Action Plan on AMR. Dr. Jean Pierre Nyemazi, interim Director of WHO’s Department of Antimicrobial Resistance, emphasized that "The Updated Global Action Plan on AMR approved by the 79th World Health Assembly recognised that antifungal resistance is an integral part of the AMR challenge – and one we can no longer afford to overlook."

Hatim Sati, Technical Officer in WHO’s Department of Antimicrobial Resistance and lead developer of the Blueprint, stated, "This blueprint provides countries with a practical framework to strengthen their response."

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