A leading Maori doctor is warning that although the latest rheumatic fever figures are promising, a lot needs to be done before it can be completely eradicated.
Just 135 people ended up in hospital for the first time with the disease last year, compared to 175 the previous year.
Dr Rawiri Jansen from the National Hauora Coalition says it shows the effectiveness of public information campaigns, free doctor’s visits for children, and the growing network of more than 300 free drop-in sore throat management clinics in high-risk areas.
He says the figure was skewed by a big reduction in cases in Auckland.
That trend has continued.
"We know of only two cases of rheumatic fever for Maori in the age group we serve, in young people, this year, and up to now we have seen averages of 25 a year so we are two thirds trough the year and we've had only two cases of acute rheumatic fever in this age group across the whole of Auckland so really remarkable result," Dr Jansen says.
He says while rheumatic fever affects disproportionate numbers of Maori and Pasifika children, that is because of overcrowded housing conditions rather than any ethnic factors.
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