Oh lord, what a huge issue.
So, I had a trawl.
It seems that it may be almost the other way round. I know if I call my doctor for an appointment I can be waiting for a month, so if you also add that as most Brits know it will be a least a week or so before they get seen, if lucky, they don't go to the doctor unless it's serious. So add the two waits togther and usually it's gone away by then. So it could well be there, just not recorded. And that might explain why we have a fair amount of rheuatic fever.
On the other hand, I also read about the immune systems of people in more overcrowded countries as being tougher as we put up with major bacterial overload, hence why strep throat is not a huge problem in the slums of Delhi, but you might get typhoid instead though....

I couldn't find a clear answer anywhere, it seems to just be one of those environmental things.

Anyhoo, I hope you feel better!