Rheumatic fever rates in some Ontario First Nations 75 times higher than rest of Canada

People living in remote First Nations north of Sioux Lookout, Ont., are experiencing acute rheumatic fever at a rate that is among the highest in the world, according to new research from the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

Researchers identified 8 cases of acute rheumatic fever among 25,000 patients in the region during a recent 18-month period ending in March 1, 2015. That marks an incidence rate of 21.3 per 100,000 or 75 times greater than the overall rate in Canada.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/rheumatic-fever-rates-in-some-ontario-first-nations-75-times-higher-than-rest-of-canada-1.3282074