diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index f8bcd86..7b3356b 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,11 +1,30 @@
 ```
-# Python cache
+# Compiled Python files
 __pycache__/
 *.pyc
 *.pyo
-*.pyd
 
-# Logs and temp files
+# Dependencies
+.venv/
+venv/
+node_modules/
+
+# Logs and temporary files
 *.log
 *.tmp
+*.swp
+
+# Environment files
+.env
+.env.local
+*.env.*
+
+# Editors
+.vscode/
+.idea/
+
+# Build artifacts
+dist/
+build/
+target/
 ```
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/scripts/__pycache__/fetch_icd11.cpython-312.pyc b/scripts/__pycache__/fetch_icd11.cpython-312.pyc
index ae313af..8a2a008 100644
Binary files a/scripts/__pycache__/fetch_icd11.cpython-312.pyc and b/scripts/__pycache__/fetch_icd11.cpython-312.pyc differ
diff --git a/scripts/fetch_icd11.py b/scripts/fetch_icd11.py
index 5a965ef..66ae47a 100644
--- a/scripts/fetch_icd11.py
+++ b/scripts/fetch_icd11.py
@@ -204,8 +204,18 @@ def should_sync(data_dir: Path, release_date: str | None, force: bool = False) -
                 return True
         return True  # No metadata file yet
     
-    # If release_date is None/empty but data exists, skip sync
-    # (WHO API doesn't provide reliable update info)
+    # If release_date couldn't be fetched, still allow sync
+    # This handles cases where WHO API endpoint is temporarily unavailable
+    # Check if we have any existing data
+    mms_dir = data_dir / "mms"
+    foundation_dir = data_dir / "foundation"
+    
+    # If no data exists at all, we should sync
+    if not mms_dir.exists() or not foundation_dir.exists():
+        return True
+    
+    # If data exists but release_date is unavailable, skip only if not forced
+    # (manual intervention may be needed)
     return False
 
 
@@ -515,10 +525,18 @@ def main(data_dir: Path, force: bool = False) -> int:
             token = get_token(session, client_id, client_secret)
         console.print("[green]Token obtained.[/green]")
 
-        # Fetch release date
-        with console.status("[bold green]Fetching release date..."):
-            release_date = fetch_release_date(session, token, start_time, client_id, client_secret)
-        console.print(f"[green]Release date: {release_date}[/green]")
+        # Fetch release date (non-blocking - sync proceeds even if unavailable)
+        release_date: str | None = None
+        try:
+            with console.status("[bold green]Fetching release date..."):
+                release_date = fetch_release_date(session, token, start_time, client_id, client_secret)
+            if release_date:
+                console.print(f"[green]Release date: {release_date}[/green]")
+            else:
+                console.print("[yellow]Release date not available from API. Proceeding with sync...[/yellow]")
+        except Exception as e:
+            console.print(f"[yellow]Could not fetch release date: {e}. Proceeding with sync...[/yellow]")
+            release_date = None
 
         # Check if sync needed
         if not should_sync(data_dir, release_date, force):