News

Oct 17, 2023

These Fungi Threaten Public Health: WHO

Oct. 27, 2022 – For the first time, the World Health Organization has published

Oct. 27, 2022 – For the first time, the World Health Organization has published a list of 19 fungi it says pose a great threat to public health.

The authors of the report said a primary goal of the list's creation is to draw attention to the need for more worldwide coordinated work in overcoming increasing treatment resistance.

"Fungal pathogens are a major threat to public health as they are becoming increasingly common and resistant to treatment with only four classes of antifungal medicines currently available, and few candidates in the clinical pipeline," the WHO explained in its release of the newly named "fungal priority pathogens list."

Of the 19 fungi on the list, four were ranked at the top as "critical":

Researchers explained that the rankings were determined, in order of importance, by public health impact, treatment resistance, and gaps in knowledge about a pathogen.

Those most at risk of being impacted by fungi on the list are those with cancer, HIV/AIDS, organ transplants, chronic respiratory disease, or post-primary tuberculosis infection, the WHO said.

Global warming, as well as increasing levels of travel and trade, are largely behind the growing "incidence and geographic range of fungal diseases," the WHO said. But "despite the growing concern, fungal infections receive very little attention and resources, leading to a scarcity of quality data on fungal disease distribution and antifungal resistance patterns. As a result, the exact burden of fungal diseases and antifungal resistance, are unknown, and the response is therefore undermined."

The organization urged "coordinated action" between countries across the world to increase surveillance and response to these fungi.

"We need more data and evidence on fungal infections and antifungal resistance to inform and improve response to these priority fungal pathogens," said Haileyesus Getahun, MD, director of AMR global coordination at the WHO, in a statement."Countries are encouraged to follow a stepwise approach, starting with strengthening their fungal disease laboratory and surveillance capacities, and ensuring equitable access to existing quality therapeutics and diagnostics, globally."

SOURCES

World Health Organization: "WHO releases first-ever list of health-threatening fungi," "WHO fungal priority pathogens list to guide research, development and public health action."

CDC: "C. neoformans Infection," "Aspergillosis."

The New York Times: "W.H.O. Lists Top Fungal Health Threats."

Cleveland Clinic: "Candida Albicans."