What is a rare disorder?

A rare disorder is a medical condition with a specific pattern of clinical signs, symptoms and findings that affects fewer than or equal to 1 in 2,000 people in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Rare disorders include, but are not limited to, rare conditions among genetic disorders, cancers, infectious disorders, poisonings, immune-related disorders, idiopathic disorders and various other rare undetermined conditions.

An ultra-rare disorder is a medical condition with a specific pattern of clinical signs, symptoms and findings that affects fewer than or equal to 1 in 50,000 people in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Source: Aotearoa New Zealand Rare Disorders Strategy