Though preventable, tetanus remains a global health problem
A new review in The Lancet highlights that tetanus remains a significant global health threat despite the availability of effective vaccines. Because the bacteria exist in soil and do not provide herd immunity, individuals must maintain personal vaccination status to stay protected.
Why it matters
It serves as a public health reminder that preventable diseases can still cause high mortality rates if vaccination vigilance is lost.
edited by Gaby Clark , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source Global incidence of adult and neonatal tetanus cases from 2020 to 2024. Credit: Koç University Tetanus is often considered a disease of the past, remembered mainly through childhood vaccinations and warnings about rusty nails. Yet despite being preventable with an effective vaccine, it continues to cause tens of thousands of deaths worldwide each year.
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