Advocacy and Engagement

 The Overlooked Threat of Fungal Diseases

Fungal diseases pose a significant yet often underestimated threat to global health. While they may not receive the same attention as viral or bacterial infections, their impact is just as profound. In the United States, the economic burden of fungal disease has been estimated at $11.5 billion annually.1 On a more global scale, fungal disease may account for 6.5 million cases worldwide and 2.5 million deaths.2 From a One Health perspective, fungal diseases are particularly concerning due to their deep connections with climate change and agriculture.

One of the greatest threats to food security, fungal pathogens devastate crops worldwide. The widespread use of similar antifungal treatments in both agriculture and medicine has accelerated drug resistance, making it harder to combat infections in humans. With only four main classes of antifungal drugs available, the rise of resistant strains is an urgent crisis, disproportionately affecting those most vulnerable.

Our Goals

At MyCARE Foundation, we are committed to advocating for increased awareness, research, and policy action to combat fungal diseases, including efforts to:

  • Secure greater funding for fungal disease research and innovation.
  • Advance early detection and treatment to improve patient outcomes.
  • Influence policy changes that include fungal infections in public health discussions.

Fungal diseases are a global concern, transcending borders, oceans, and political divides. Addressing this challenge requires collaboration between healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, and patient communities. Through partnerships and advocacy, we work to ensure fungal diseases receive the attention and resources they deserve.

Our Efforts

We continue our bipartisan collaboration with Congress to advance awareness, research, and policy initiatives related to Valley Fever, fungal diseases, and AMR. Additionally, we are strengthening partnerships with key stakeholders to amplify the need for fungal diseases to be included in infectious disease and AMR planning.

Join Us in Driving Change

Raising awareness and pushing for innovative solutions will help reduce the burden of fungal diseases worldwide. Whether you are a researcher, healthcare provider, policymaker, or concerned individual, your voice matters. Together, we can create a future where fungal infections are better understood, effectively treated, and less of a threat to public health.

Let’s act—because fungal diseases can no longer be ignored.

Sources:

  1. Benedict K, Whitham HK, Jackson BR. Economic burden of fungal diseases in the United States. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2022; 9:ofac097.
  2. Denning DW. Global incidence and mortality of severe fungal disease. Lancet Infect Dis. 2024; 12:S1473-3099(23)00692-8.

We recently sent a letter to President Trump, emphasizing the importance of addressing Valley Fever, and fungal diseases, as part of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and infectious disease efforts. Moving forward, we are planning additional outreach efforts to continue to raise awareness of fungal diseases and engage the administration on these critical public health issues.

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The mission of MYCARE includes education, including supporting stakeholders and elected representatives in their educational efforts.

Representative Michael Burgess, MD (TX-26) used his time at the House Energy & Commerce Hearing on “Antimicrobial Resistance: Examining an Emerging Public Health Threat” held on April 28, 2023 to educate the committee on the growing impact of Valley Fever and other fungal infections. MYCARE Founding Member Rob Purdie’s efforts are specifically mentioned in the response from Kevin Outterson, ESQ, Executive Director of CARB-X.

MyCARE is a valued educational resource for stakeholders, elected officials, media, the public, and most importantly, patients and caregivers.  To continue our mission, we need your help.  Please consider sharing your experience as well as what resources would be beneficial to you.

 

In May MyCARE held our 2023 Patient & Caregiver Summit: A Shared Vision for Improving Fungal Infection Outcomes in Denver Colorado. Attendees received a very special welcome and thank you from Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (CA-20). Speaker McCarthy has been instrumental in bringing fungal diseases including Valley Fever, which impacts his District, to the national agenda. He continues to prioritize funding for both the National Institute of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to increase their research and education efforts regarding fungal infections.