Over 300 million people develop fungal diseases every year, yet these infections remain largely overlooked in national health policies despite causing serious illness and deaths worldwide. Seeking to change that, the World Health Organisation (WHO) released a new blueprint recently to help countries strengthen the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and surveillance of fungal diseases while tackling the growing threat of antifungal resistance.

The guidance comes just weeks after the 79th World Health Assembly adopted an updated global action plan on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), recognising that fungi—along with bacteria, viruses, and parasites—are increasingly evolving to survive medicines designed to kill them. This process, known as antifungal resistance, makes infections harder and sometimes impossible to treat.

The burden extends far beyond common conditions such as ringworm and nail infections. Invasive fungal diseases can become life-threatening for people with weakened immune systems, including patients receiving intensive care, those living with HIV, organ transplant recipients, and people undergoing cancer treatment. Studies published in journals including The Lancet Infectious Diseases have shown that delayed diagnosis and limited access to effective antifungal medicines significantly increase the risk of death.

“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—one we can no longer afford to overlook,” said Dr Jean-Pierre Nyemazi, interim director of the WHO's Department of Antimicrobial Resistance.

He added that the blueprint “gives countries a concrete path forward."

WHO said widespread use of antifungal medicines in human healthcare, agriculture and animal health, along with environmental exposure to antifungal chemicals, has contributed to the emergence of resistant fungi. Yet, fungal diseases remain under-represented in disease estimates, AMR strategies and universal health coverage plans.

The Blueprint builds on the WHO's 2022 Fungal Priority Pathogens List, which identified 19 fungal pathogens requiring urgent public health action. Developed with input from more than 150 experts across all WHO regions, it outlines practical measures to strengthen health systems, improve laboratory capacity, expand access to quality-assured diagnostics and medicines, promote responsible use of antifungal drugs, and address environmental and agricultural factors influencing fungal disease.

“Fungal disease and antifungal resistance remain an underaddressed priority across national health plans, AMR strategies, and surveillance systems. This blueprint provides countries with a practical framework to strengthen their response,” said Hatim Sati, technical officer in WHO's Department of Antimicrobial Resistance, who led the guidance's development.