HHS Roundtable Puts Serious Fungal Diseases in the Spotlight
Federal leaders, clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates gathered September 18 to address gaps in surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment.
On September 18, Secretary Kennedy convened a roundtable with CDC Director Dr. Erica Schwartz, Congressman Vince Fong, CDC experts, clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates to address gaps in the surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment of invasive mold and other serious fungal diseases.
The discussion highlighted new CDC findings from the nation’s only active surveillance program for invasive mold disease, underscoring the need for better national data to identify Americans at risk.
Why surveillance matters
Better data can help public health officials identify who is at risk, recognize emerging trends, and direct resources toward earlier diagnosis and treatment.
Building a stronger public health response
Participants discussed how to incorporate fungal and mold diseases into the broader public health response, invest in research and clinical trials, improve diagnostic tools and antifungal treatments, and expand state and local surveillance and laboratory capacity.
They also discussed opportunities to improve clinician and patient education. Patients shared their stories and emphasized the importance of awareness, early recognition, and timely treatment.
Watch the roundtable
Full discussion
More from the discussion
Recognizing Fungal Disease Awareness Week
The roundtable coincided with Congressman Fong’s (CA-20) introduction of a resolution that would recognize the third week of September as Fungal Disease Awareness Week (FDAW). The effort reinforced HHS’ focus on earlier detection, gold-standard science, and American innovation to prevent mold-related illnesses and save lives.
“Fungal diseases can devastate patients when doctors fail to recognize them early. We are changing that. HHS is working to strengthen detection, accelerate diagnosis, advance new treatments, and give doctors the tools they need to act sooner. I thank Congressman Fong for bringing the experiences of Valley Fever patients to Washington and helping us confront these diseases head-on.”
— HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.