At a glance
Save the dates! September 14-18, 2026, marks the 10th annual Fungal Disease Awareness Week (FDAW).
Preparing for FDAW
Daily themes and topics for FDAW 2026
- September 14 | Primary care Talk to your doctor if you have an infection that's not getting better. It could be fungal.
- September 15 | Antifungal resistance A major challenge to treatment.
- September 16 | Travel-Associated infections Talk to your healthcare provider if you recently traveled and think you have a fungal infection.
- September 17 | Fungal skin infections Fungal skin infections (like ringworm) can look like other skin conditions. See a healthcare provider to get the right diagnosis and treatment.
- September 18 | Fungal Diagnostics and Therapeutics Research and development is needed to improve diagnosis and treatment of fungal diseases.
Awareness resources
CDC provides outreach materials and encourages raising fungal disease awareness throughout the year. Partners can use these resources to tailor FDAW campaigns instead of using the forthcoming 2026 toolkit. Use materials that fit your organization’s priority topics, work areas, and audiences.
Customize your FDAW 2026 campaign and raise awareness about fungal diseases any time:
- Choose from >100 graphics, videos, and fact sheets.
- Post social media messages from the toolkit.
- Check out educational materials and job aids for healthcare professionals.
- View or share recorded webinars.
Upcoming FDAW Webinars
CDC will be cohosting and presenting at several webinars for Fungal Disease Awareness Week. Please see below for more information.
- Tuesday, September 15, Webinar on Antifungal Resistance hosted by MiDog
Living Detectors: Integrating Animal Sentinels into Fungal Disease Preparedness
In recognition of Fungal Disease Awareness Week, MiDOG is hosting this One Health webinar with experts from the CDC's Mycotic Diseases Branch, the University of California, Davis, and MiDOG Animal Diagnostics. Through focused discussions of blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosi, also known as Valley fever, and sporotrichosis, the speakers will examine how animal cases can serve as sentinels for fungal disease activity. Time: 12:00 – 1:00pm EST.
Registration link: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/c304fa02-216a-41bb-bf43-52537649a72a@7d5e58fa-aff7-4d93-857f-9f98d9361443
- Tuesday, September 15, Webinar on Antifungal Resistance hosted by Society of Infectious Disease Pharmacists
Antifungal Drug Resistance - A Growing Clinical Challenge
Join us for a webinar co-hosted by CDC and SIDP in celebration of Fungal Diseases Awareness Week! Dr. Jeff Rybak will review the antifungal armamentarium and explore mechanisms driving acquired and intrinsic resistance across clinically important fungal pathogens. Time: 1:00pm EST.
Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JQZ2lsjSQSSiezebDxlh4w
- September 16|Travel-Acquired infections. Webinar hosted by International Society of Travel Medicine
Talk to your healthcare provider if you recently traveled and think you have a fungal infection. Fungi on the Fly: Travel-Associated Fungal Infections.
During this webinar Tom Chiller examines medical tourism as a route of fungal exposure, drawing on the recent fungal meningitis outbreaks among patients who traveled abroad for surgical procedures — a devastating, hard-to-diagnose complication that put clinicians on alert across two countries and reframed how we counsel patients considering care overseas .Ellie Macbain turns to adventure travel and the histoplasmosis outbreaks that follow cave exploration, ecotourism and other high-exposure itineraries, where a single group excursion can generate a cluster of cases presenting to a dozen unconnected clinics weeks later. Eva Parker covers what shows up on the skin: travel-associated dermatophytosis, including the antifungal-resistant strains now spreading internationally, and the implantation mycoses acquired through traumatic inoculation in tropical and subtropical settings. Time: 9:00-10:00am EST
Registration link: Learning @ ISTM: Fungi on the Fly: Travel-Associated Fungal Infections
- September 17 |Fungal skin infections. Webinar hosted by International League of Dermatological Societies
Fungal skin infections (like ringworm) can look like other skin conditions. See a healthcare provider to get the right diagnosis and treatment.
Drug-resistant dermatophyte infections are an emerging global health challenge. Join international experts for a live discussion on what clinicians need to know about changing epidemiology, antifungal resistance, diagnosis, treatment and the lessons that can inform the global response. Time: 7:30am EST
Registration link: Webinar Registration - Zoom
- Thursday, September 17 Webinar on Antifungal Resistance hosted by REVIVE/GARDP
Tackling Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Challenges in Antifungal Therapy
Fungal infections cause substantial morbidity and mortality globally. While antifungal resistance is on the rise, the current antifungal treatment options include a limited number of therapeutic classes which have many pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) challenges. This webinar will host a expert discussions of recent advances to overcome PK and PD challenges for antifungal treatment. From 11-12:30 pm EST. Register here.
- Friday, September 18 Webinar on Fungal Diagnostics and Therapeutics hosted by ASM
Beyond Detection: Novel Diagnostics Driving the Future of Fungal Disease Management
ASM will host a webinar exploring emerging advances in fungal diagnostics and antifungal susceptibility testing, highlighting how innovative technologies are improving fungal identification and clinical decision-making. Experts will discuss new approaches to interpreting susceptibility results and leveraging diagnostic tools to support effective antifungal stewardship. Time: 2:00 – 3:00pm EST.
Registration link: https://asm.org/webinars/asm-cdc-fungal-diagnostics-webinar?utm_source=CDC&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ASMCDCFungalWebinar
- Friday, September 18 Webinar on Fungal Diagnostics and Therapeutics hosted by ISHAM
Resistance Without Borders: Antifungal Threats Region by Region
International Society of Human and Animal Mycology (ISHAM) will host a webinar exploring antifungal resistance in different regions globally. Experts will discuss fungi that are developing resistance in their region and clinical/public health actions to address it. From 9:00 – 10:00am EST.
Registration link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/Iv6VsimUTEeiNYB7Fxa6bw
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Importance of fungal disease awareness
Frequently misdiagnosed
Fungal diseases are increasing worldwide, yet they are often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed. Lacking diagnosis can lead to severe, potentially chronic illness, and sometimes cost lives. Additionally, misdiagnosed patients often receive antibiotics, drugs designed to fight bacteria, instead of the antifungals needed treat fungal infections. Any misuse of antibiotics or antifungals may contribute to drug resistance.
Global health concerns
Emerging species (types) of ringworm and a cat-associated species of sporotrichosis are being reported in more countries. One emerging type of ringwork, TMVII, is increasingly spreading in the United States. These infections are more severe and harder to treat.
Meanwhile three longstanding fungal skin infections are classified as Neglected Tropical Diseases. Global efforts are needed to help reduce the impact and control the spread of these conditions.
Future impact
Shifts in the environment may increase the impact of fungal diseases. Studies show that global temperature increases may allow environmental infectious fungi to grow in new areas that were previously too cold. Changes in the climate may also cause fungi to evolve, threatening the rise of new fungal infections. Some researchers believe climate change caused the emergence of the deadly fungus C. auris.
Additionally, antimicrobial resistance is increasing. With only three antifungals available and no vaccines for fungal diseases, awareness, prevention, and early diagnoses and treatment are critical.
Awareness makes a difference
With increased knowledge and understanding, everyone can help address these issues.
Fungal disease awareness among the public and healthcare providers can:
- Encourage patients and providers to discuss and consider fungal diseases and testing.
- Drive a unified global One Health action to help stop the threat of fungal diseases.
- Inspire more research in prevention, diagnostics, and treatment.
Encourage others to learn more during FDAW and all year.
Think fungus, save lives
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