According to the WHO, 15.6 million people worldwide are living with RHD. Of the 500 000 who develop ARF each year, 300 000 go on to develop RHD and 233 000 deaths are attributable each year to ARF/RHD. The are conservative estimates and the true burden of disease is thought to be even greater. This mortality rates are higher than those of rotaviruses, meningitis and hepatitis B and half of those with malaria.

Rheumatic fever: neglected again.

Watkins DA, Zuhlke LJ, Engel ME, Mayosi BM.

Science. 2009 Apr 3;324(5923):37. No abstract available.