At a glance
Fungal Disease Awareness Week (FDAW) was September 16-20, 2024. Fungal diseases are increasing worldwide. Each year CDC and partners around the world to spread the word about the growing impact of fungal diseases. View this year's webinars and use the FDAW toolkit throughout the year to keep raising awareness!
Overview of FDAW 2024
Ways to participate
- Use CDC's FDAW 2024 social media toolkit
- Or choose from other communication materials
- Post with #FungalWeek24
- Or choose from other communication materials
- Join webinars all week.
- Sign up for the Fungal Diseases Newsletter and invite others.
During #FungalWeek24, follow along with the daily taglines and topics, hear from experts around the world, and help raise awareness.
The graphics created and included in the FDAW toolkit were designed for use at any time of the year!
Learn more about the importance of raising awareness.
Daily taglines and topics
Each day of the week has a tagline corresponding to an important fungal disease topic. Social media, featured resources, and webinars will be about the tagline and topic area for the day.
FDAW 2024 taglines:
9/16- Think Fungus: Diagnostic tests keep antifungals working their best.
9/17- Fungi are everywhere: On animals, in the environment, and in the air.
9/18- Neglected Tropical Diseases: Fungal infections and unmet needs
9/19- Lung infection won't go away? Learn about fungal infections today.
9/20- The future of fungal diseases: Rising heat makes fungi harder to beat
Webinars
Watch recordings of CDC-cohosted webinars held each day of FDAW and additional highlighted partner webinars. Learn about fungal diseases from international experts, clinicians, patients, veterinarians, and state and local health departments.
Find descriptions and links to recording by clicking "+" beside the title.
A Patient- Centered Approach to Antimicrobial Resistance: From Diagnostic Advances to Clinical Care
Hosted by CDC and World Health Organization
View the recorded webinar here.
Moderators:
Hatim Sati, MD, MPH - Technical Officer, WHO AMR Division
Tom Chiller, MD, MPHTM- Chief of Mycotic Diseases Branch, CDC
Nancy Chow, PhD, MSc, Deputy Branch Chief of Mycotic Diseases Branch, CDC
Presenters:
Ana Alastruey, PhD, MSc- Research Scientist, National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain
Daniel Marcano, MSc- Technical Officer, WHO AMR Division
Rita Oladele, MD- Professor, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria.
Rob Purdie- Valley Fever Institute, Kern Medical; Taskforce of AMR Survivors, WHO
Summary: CDC and WHO kick off FDAW 2024 with a reminder of what drives global fungal disease research and initiatives: the patients. Experts will share updates on antimicrobial resistance and advancements in diagnostics and susceptibility testing; efforts to improve patient care. Next a clinician and professor will describe the scope of Cryptococcus infections and invasive fungal diseases in Nigeria and work to improve surveillance. Last, a survivor will share how a patient experiences misdiagnosis and diagnostic challenges, difficulties with antifungal treatment and management, and long-term impacts of Valley fever. Experiences like this are why FDAW is important.
Fungal Zoonotic Diseases: Updates
Hosted by CDC and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
Access the on-demand webinar.
To view this webinar: Register for a free account >Select "Axon" > "On-Demand Webinars" > Select "Fungal Zoonotic Diseases: Updates">Add to cart and select "Get your digital orders"
CE credit: 1 AVMA CE Credit
Presenters:
Dr. Jane Sykes, BVSc, PhD - Professor of Small Animal Medicine at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Clarissa Pimentel de Souza, DVM, MS, PhD - Assistant Professor, Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Summary: Over the past decade, fungal infections in both animals and people have become an increasing public health concern. In this webinar, veterinary experts delve into the topic of emerging fungal infections, including cat-transmitted sporotrichosis, dermatophytosis, histoplasmosis, and more.
This webinar was developed by the AVMA in collaboration with an educational partner: the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Neglected Tropical Diseases: Don't Forget About Fungi!
Hosted by CDC and International League of Dermatological Societies
View the recorded webinar here.
Presenters:
Dallas Smith, PharmD, MAS - Epidemiologist, Mycotic Diseases Branch, US CDC
Marlous Grijsen, MD - Dermatologist and senior clinical scientist based at OUCRU (Oxford University Clinical Research Unit) Indonesia
David Chandler, MD - Consultant Dermatologist, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, Honorary Research Fellow (Brighton and Sussex Medical School)
Guadalupe Estrada, MD - Dermatologist, Community Dermatology Mexico; Facultad de Medicina. Univ. Autonoma de Guerrero, Instituto Estatal de Cancerologia
Roderick Hay, DM - Emeritus Professor of Cutaneous Infection, Kings College London
Summary: Hear from dermatologists working on fungal neglected tropical diseases: chromoblastomycosis, mycetoma, and sporotrichosis. Presenters from across the globe share clinical experiences and programmatic work to control these neglected diseases. Presentations will be followed by a panel discussion with questions from the audience.
Mycetoma: Understanding the Disease, Seeking Solutions
Hosted by US CDC and Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative
Presenters:
Dr. Wendemagegn Enbiale, CEO of Selam Global Health consultancy, Professor of Dermatovenerology Bahir Dar University and Arba Minch University, Ethiopia
Dr Augustin Kadima Ebeja, NTD Medical Officer, Focal Point | Human African Trypanosomiasis & Mycetoma, WHO Regional Office for Africa
Dr Dilip Kachhwaha, Senior Professor in Dermatology and STD at MDM Hospital, Jodhpur, India
John Ekai, Lab Technologist/Community Advocate, Lodwar Hospital, Kenya
Dr Borna Nyaoke -Anoke, Head of Mycetoma, Drugs for neglected Diseases initiative
Summary: By bringing together leading experts, a patient advocate, and healthcare professionals, we will explore the hidden toll of mycetoma, a neglected tropical disease that causes devastating disabilities and death. This webinar will highlight the challenges of diagnosis and treatments and discuss the path forward in relation to research advancements and the future of mycetoma control.
Think fungus: Insights from Blastomycosis Surveillance and Outbreak Investigations in an Endemic Region
Hosted by CDC with Minnesota Department of Health, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Presenters
Samantha Williams - Epidemiologist, Mycotic Diseases Branch, CDC
Malia Ireland - Senior Epidemiologist, Minnesota Department of Health
Rebecca Reik - Zoonotic Disease Epidemiologist, Michigan Department of Health & Human Services
Katie Wiesner - Research Analyst, Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Summary: This webinar will provide a brief overview of the epidemiology of the fungal infection blastomycosis followed by presentations from three state health departments in an endemic region. Speakers will present insights from outbreak and cluster investigations as well as findings from surveillance data describing risk factors for severe blastomycosis.
Climate Change and Fungal Infections: A Collaborative Approach to Understand the Effects of Climate Change on Valley Fever in California
CDC, and University of California- Berkeley, and California Department of Public Health
Presenters:
Michelle Fearon Scales - Prevention Effectiveness Modeling Fellow, Mycotic Diseases Branch, CDC
Justin Remais - Professor and Chair of the Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California – Berkeley
Gail Sondermeyer Cooksey - Epidemiologist, California Department of Public Health
Simon Camponuri - PhD candidate, University of California - Berkeley
Jennifer Head - Assistant Professor, Epidemiology, University of Michigan
Event summary: This webinar will describe the ways in which climate change may be affecting fungal diseases. Speakers from California Department of Public Health and University of California – Berkeley will present on their collaborative work modeling the impact of seasonality and climate change on the risk of fungal infection Valley fever in California and how those findings were used to inform public health messaging and prevention efforts.
Additional webinars for FDAW
CDC and the International League of Dermatological Societies
Summary: Clinical experiences to understand, prevent, and treat these fungal skin infections. Presentations will be followed by practical tips for diagnosis and treatment of emerging and complex dermatophytes, an overview of a registry for dermatophyte infections, and a question-and-answer session.
Wednesday, September 18, 12:00 – 1:00 PM PT/ 3:00 – 4:00 PM EST
Geetha Sivasubramanian, MD, FIDSA, Chief of Infectious Diseases at UCSF Fresno
Mitsuru Toda, PhD, MS, Epidemiologist at CDC
Samantha Williams, MPH, Epidemiologist at CDC
Summary: This session will provide valuable insights into real-life cases, diagnostic challenges, and best practices for early detection and treatment of Valley fever.
The World Fungi Day: An Online Webinar in Cameroon
Saturday, September 21, 2024
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (GMT +1)
Meeting ID: 447 516 8455
Passcode: ykpQ7u
Importance of fungal awareness
Frequently misdiagnosed
Fungal diseases are increasing worldwide. Yet, they are often misdiagnosed, which can lead to severe, potentially chronic illness, and sometimes costs 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 more severe, can be harder to treat, and being reported in more countries. 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
Climate change 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 take steps 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.
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