Lay summary
Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF) is preventable. In New Zealand many new individually different school sore throat clinics (e.g. throat swabbing 3-5 times/week, treating skin infections or not etc) are underway to control ARF by treating the preceding group A (GAS) streptococcal sore throat. To ensure the best outcome for NZ children at risk of ARF we plan to variation of success of different school programmes by measuring the amount of GAS, both from skin and throat infections, in different schools, both before and after the commencement of a clinic. We also plan to compare different intensified initiatives that might reduce GAS in a selected group of schools to enhance GAS and thus ARF control. As well, in the longer term, the effect of clinics on RF reduction will be measured. The outcomes of our research we hope will help to fine tune ARF control in NZ in the future.