Fungal Disease Awareness Week

At a glance

September 2026 will mark the 10th anniversary of Fungal Disease Awareness Week (FDAW)! Use the resources currently on FDAW pages throughout the year to continue to raise awareness.

Graphic with text: Fungal Disease Awareness Week September 15-19, 2025

Resources for FDAW

Social media toolkit and outreach resources

Outreach resources include a social media toolkit with general public and healthcare provider posts, wallet cards, and more.

All materials are also available in Spanish.

More ways to raise awareness

Daily themes

CDC's outreach activities focus on a different cross-cutting fungal disease theme each day. The themes for each day are outlined in the calendar below. The full-sized graphics in the social media toolkit have related taglines.

These themes are just suggestions. Outreach on any fungal disease topic is important every day of the year!

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calendar with the first square announcing fungal disease awareness week. Each day, 9/15-9/19 has a theme and image.
Follow along with a different theme each day of the week.

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 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 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

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

A doctor and patient are talking with assorted medical testing materials on the left and antifungals on the right.
With increased awareness, more people with fungal infections will get the right diagnosis and treatment sooner.

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Content Source:
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)