Years of Warnings Unheeded: Dutch Health Council Urges Action on Deadly Fungus as Resistance Soars
The Hague, Netherlands – For over a decade, researchers have been sounding the alarm about the growing threat of Aspergillus fumigatus, a fungus increasingly resistant to vital antifungal medications, yet political action has been consistently delayed. A recent advisory from the Dutch Health council – stating that resistance “undermines the treatment of fungal infections” and demanding immediate measures – marks a critical turning point in a story of scientific warnings repeatedly met with further study and ultimately, inaction.
The timeline of concern stretches back to at least 2009, when the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety authority (NVWA) recommended research into biocide and crop protection product resistance development. That research materialized in September 2013 with the publication of the haskoning report, an analysis of precisely that issue. The Party for the Animals promptly seized upon the findings, highlighting the cross-cutting implications for agriculture, the surroundings, and public health within the House of Representatives.
Though, the response from the government was to commission more research. In February 2014, officials announced consultations with the RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) regarding the Haskoning report’s recommendations (official response). Just two months later, a new study led by the RIVM was announced, focusing on the link between (tri)azole use and the emergence of resistant fungal strains – a request researchers like Verweij had been making for years.
This pattern continued. A letter to the House in may 2016 confirmed the examination had begun, with the first phase completed and a new report published. The issue broadened, evolving from a single fungus to a complex interplay of agricultural practices, medicine, and environmental policy.
Parallel research between 2013 and 2017,conducted by Environmental Consultancy CLM and Radboud University Medical Center,further solidified the understanding of resistance development. Five consecutive surveys pinpointed where the fungus grows, how resistance arises, potential alternatives, and the consequences of replacing azoles.Researchers like Peter Leendertse consistently concluded: “we know how resistance arises and where it comes from.”
Despite this growing body of evidence, a 2019 report from the RIVM, led by professor Sijmen Schoustra of Wageningen University (report link), reiterated the need for policy, stating “scientifically we now know enough.” Yet,the report was followed by silence. Knowledge accumulated, but remained untranslated into concrete action.
It took until 2024 for the Health Council to intervene with a clear and urgent message: resistance is jeopardizing treatment for fungal infections (Health Council advice). the Council’s recommendations are direct: reduce azole use in agriculture, implement stricter regulations, and improve monitoring. As of today, a year after the Council’s call, the Netherlands awaits a decisive response to a threat researchers have been warning about for years.
(A broadcast from the Pointer program, offering further insight into this growing public health concern, is available below.)
