Walsh L, Innes-Smith S, Wright J, et al. - Given that acute rheumatic fever (ARF) mainly affects indigenous Māori schoolchildren in Bay of Plenty region, and more so male Māori students, particularly when socioeconomically deprived, researchers assessed the efficacy of strategies for reducing ARF with group A streptococcal pharyngitis treatment in 2011–18. Outcomes of 3 open cohorts of Māori schoolchildren obtaining different interventions were retrospectively evaluated: Eastern Bay rural Cohort 1, mean deprivation decile 9.80, received school-based sore-throat programs with nurse and general practice (GP) support; Eastern Whakatane township/surrounds Cohort 2, mean deprivation 7.25, GP management; Western Bay Cohort 3, mean deprivation 5.98, received predominantly GP care, but 3 highest-risk schools received school-based programs. In highest-risk settings, school-based programs with indigenous Māori health workers’ sore-throat swabbing and GP/Nurse support decreased first-presentation ARF incidence in Māori students.