- The second World Congress on Rheumatic Heart Disease will be held in Perth from 11 to 14 November 2026, co-hosted by the World Heart Federation and the National Heart Foundation of Australia.
- Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) affects 55 million people worldwide and kills more than 360,000 people a year, yet is entirely preventable, developing from untreated Strep A infections that cause acute rheumatic fever (ARF).
- Whilst wealthy nations have largely eradicated RHD, it continues to devastate communities across sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and the Western Pacific, with Australia a notable exception due to disproportionately high rates among First Nations people.
- Hundreds of researchers, clinicians, patients, and advocates will share the latest research and explore practical solutions, concluding with delegates signing the Perth Declaration, which will be presented to governments worldwide to drive action.
- Experts are calling for sustained global political commitment and funding to prevent ARF, enable early detection of RHD, and ensure access to continuing care, building on the World Health Assembly's 2018 resolution urging governments to act.
MEDIA RELEASE
Date: Monday, 9 November, 2026
Perth to host global push to end rheumatic heart disease, once and for all
The world's leading rheumatic heart disease (RHD) experts will meet in Perth this week to drive efforts to end a preventable disease that kills more than 360,000 people a year.
The World Heart Federation and the National Heart Foundation of Australia will co-host the second World Congress on Rheumatic Heart Disease at the Pan Pacific Hotel Perth from 11 to 14 November.
Hundreds of researchers, clinicians, patients, and advocates will share the latest research and explore practical solutions at the Congress. At its conclusion, delegates will sign on to the Perth Declaration, a crucial piece of advocacy that will be handed to governments from across the world to turn commitments into action.
RHD affects 55 million people worldwide. It develops when an untreated Strep A throat or skin infection triggers acute rheumatic fever (ARF). RHD is the permanent damage to the heart's valves caused by ARF.
Wealthy nations have almost eradicated RHD, but it continues to devastate communities across sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and the Western Pacific.
Australia is a stark exception among wealthy nations. Here, the disease mostly affects First Nations people, who experience some of the highest recorded rates of ARF and RHD in the world. Registers in five states and territories recorded 11,800 people living with RHD or a history of ARF in 2024. In the Northern Territory, one in 17 First Nations people has a recorded diagnosis of either condition.
National Heart Foundation of Australia Chief Scientific and Medical Officer, Professor Derek Chew, said the tragedy of RHD was that the disease is entirely preventable.
"Rheumatic heart disease is entirely preventable but persists because of poverty, overcrowded housing and unequal access to care. This congress brings the world's best minds to Australia to turn evidence into action,” Prof. Chew said.
World Heart Federation President, Professor Jagat Narula, called on world leaders to hear the united voices of the RHD community to help end the disease.
“Most people living with rheumatic heart disease are in low- and middle-income countries, where access to effective prevention and treatment remains limited,” Prof. Narula said.
“Although important scientific challenges remain, we already know enough to prevent much of the suffering this disease causes. What is urgently needed is the global political commitment and sustained funding to put that knowledge into practice.
“The World Health Assembly’s 2018 resolution called on governments to act. Building on the inaugural Congress in Abu Dhabi in 2023, we hope the second Congress in Perth will help turn that call into adequately funded national programmes that prevent acute rheumatic fever, detect RHD early and ensure access to continuing care.”
ENDS
About us:
About the World Congress on Rheumatic Heart Disease 2026
From 11–14 November 2026, researchers, clinicians, policymakers, advocates and people with lived experience will gather in Perth, Western Australia, for the second World Congress on Rheumatic Heart Disease where they will share the latest science, build partnerships and drive practical action towards preventing and eliminating RHD.
The Congress is convened by the World Heart Federation and the National Heart Foundation of Australia and made possible by the generous support of:
The Heart Foundation New Zealand, Leducq Foundation, Edwards Lifesciences Foundation, Edwards, American Heart Association, Coefficient Giving, Business Events Australia, Western Australia / Business Events Perth, and the Government of Western Australia Department of Health, in partnership with The Kids Research Institute Australia, REACH and the Pan-African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR).
About the World Heart Federation
The World Heart Federation (WHF) is an umbrella organisation representing the global cardiovascular community, uniting over 200 scientific, medical, patient, and civil society organisations in close to 100 countries. Together with its Members, WHF influences policies, shares knowledge and inspires behaviour change to achieve heart health for everyone. For more information, visit www.worldheart.org
About the Heart Foundation
The Heart Foundation is Australia’s leading advocate for heart health, having worked for more than 65 years to improve the prevention, detection, and treatment of cardiovascular disease. While survival rates have improved, cardiovascular disease remains one of the nation’s biggest killers, claiming around 116 lives in Australia every day. Guided by our vision that heart health will be achievable by everyone in Australia by 2050, we fund high impact research, advocate for heart healthy policies and communities, raise public awareness, and support health professionals through programs and education – work made possible largely through the generosity of our supporters across Australia.
Contact details:
Media enquiries
National Heart Foundation Australia
Erin Marie
M: +61 4 39 366 992
World Heart Federation
Paula Orrite
