About rheumatic fever

Most strep throats get better and don't lead to rheumatic fever. However, in a small number of people an untreated strep throat leads to rheumatic fever one to five weeks after a sore throat. This can cause the heart, joints, brain and skin to become inflamed and swollen.

While the symptoms of rheumatic fever may disappear on their own, the inflammation can cause rheumatic heart disease, where there is scarring of the heart valves.

People with rheumatic heart disease may need heart valve replacement surgery. Rheumatic heart disease can cause premature death in adults.

Māori and Pacific children and young adults (aged 4–19 years) have the highest rates of rheumatic fever. 

It is highly likely that a combination of crowded housing conditions and socio-economic deprivation, barriers to primary healthcare access and the subsequent higher burden of untreated strep sore throat infections are important factors leading to higher rates of rheumatic fever among Māori and Pacific people.

Rheumatic fever is unevenly distributed in New Zealand, with most cases recorded in the North Island.

The Rheumatic Fever Roadmap 2023-2028 (Roadmap) has been developed to reset, renew and amplify efforts in Aotearoa New Zealand to tackle rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.

The vision for the Roadmap is Pae Ora (healthy futures) for tamariki and rangatahi by preventing rheumatic fever and ensuring those with rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease and their whānau are supported to live well.

The Roadmap brings together those involved in rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease prevention and management in Aotearoa New Zealand and focuses activities and priorities into a coherent plan. Māori and Pacific patient and whānau voice are central to the Roadmap and have informed the development of the three focus areas.

Read the Rheumatic Fever Roadmap 2023-2028