Deadly Fungal Infections Pose “Silent Pandemic,” Could Kill 40 Million in 25 Years

A recent study published in *The Lancet* warns that antibiotic-resistant infections could result in nearly 40 million deaths by 2050. The researchers found that drug-resistant infections already cause more than one million deaths annually between 1990 and 2021. This figure is expected to rise to nearly two million deaths each year by 2050, potentially leading to 40 million fatalities over the next 25 years.

The study emphasizes that one-third of these lives could be saved if access to better treatments and appropriate antibiotics is improved. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria adapt and become resistant to drugs, making once-treatable diseases like pneumonia, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and diarrhea potentially fatal.

This growing resistance has created what researchers call a “silent pandemic,” which demands urgent global attention. Molecular biologist Norman van Rhijn from the University of Manchester highlights that while bacterial resistance is widely discussed, the increasing threat of fungal pathogens and antifungal resistance is being overlooked.

Van Rhijn and an international team of scientists urge pharmaceutical companies and governments to address the issue beyond just bacterial resistance. They warn that if action is not taken, fungal infections could affect 6.5 million people and result in 3.8 million deaths annually.

The focus on bacterial drug resistance is worrisome because many drug-resistance challenges in recent decades have stemmed from invasive fungal diseases, which remain largely unrecognized by the public and policymakers. The report points out that only four systemic antifungal classes are currently available for treating deep or invasive fungal infections, and resistance to these treatments is increasingly common.

While new antifungal drugs have been developed in recent years, the researchers note that the race between evolving pathogens and medicine is accelerating. They explain that fungicides developed by the agricultural industry often result in cross-resistance, which complicates the treatment of critical fungal infections.

The authors stress the need to balance food security—where fungicides are crucial—with the ability to treat current and future drug-resistant fungal pathogens effectively.