68%
of ARF cases present with fever
60%
of RHD cases classified as severe
7
deaths from RHD
The most common sign or symptom occurring in people diagnosed with ARF was raised inflammatory markers, followed by fever.
The majority (60%) of RHD cases were classified as severe at the time of diagnosis. People with severe RHD are at high risk of complications like stroke or heart failure.
Seven people notified with RHD after 2 October 2015 died between 2020 and 2024. All were under 35 years at the time of death. Five of the people identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and one person identified as Māori/Pasifika.
1Elevated CRP or ESR.
Data for this report was extracted from the Notifiable Conditions Records for Epidemiology and Surveillance, NSW Ministry of Health on 17 September 2025. Population data including population by LHD, population by Māori and Pasifika status and NSW population were obtained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics via the Secure Analytics for Population Health Research and Intelligence System (SAPHaRI).
