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The global burden of rheumatic fever and what to do
about it
Presenter: Professor Jonathan Carapetis
Thirty million people have rheumatic heart disease, and more than 300,000 die from
it each year – almost all of them from populations living in poverty. You may know
that rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease are a major issue in New Zealand,
particularly for Maori and Pacific Peoples. You may not know that these diseases are
rife in developing countries around the world.
In this public lecture, Jonathan Carapetis will give an overview of rheumatic fever
and rheumatic heart disease around the world, highlighting some recent advances
that give hope to efforts to make rheumatic heart disease a thing of the past.
Professor Jonathan Carapetis is a paediatrician and infectious diseases specialist.
He is Director of the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research at the University of
Western Australia. He is one of the world’s leading authorities on rheumatic fever
and other streptococcal diseases, and has been a strong advocate of bringing
research, policy and advocacy together.
This session will include comment on the New Zealand context from Professor Diana
Lennon, University of Auckland.
Chaired by Professor Norman Sharpe, CEO of the New Zealand Heart Foundation.
Monday 4 February 2013
5.00-6.00 pm
Nordmeyer Lecture Theatre, Level D
Followed by refreshments
Hosted by the Health Environment & Infection Research Unit (HEIRU),
Department of Public Health, University of Otago Wellington