EPIDEMIOLOGY
- The good news is Clostridium tetani will never cause an epidemic because tetanus is not contagious.
- It is the only vaccine-preventable disease that is infections but not contagious
- Although vaccinations have lowered the rate of tetanus, there are still about a million reported cases worldwide every year.
- It is most common in less developed countries with poor medical care and the vaccinations are not available.
- It is also prevalent in highly populated countries with hot, damp climates.
- The tetanus toxoid vaccine became popular in the 1940's and the mortality rate was about 90% in the U.S., and the current mortality rate is about 5 to 10%.
- In less developed countries, most tetanus deaths are neonatal tetanus which accounts for 60 to 90% of all tetanus cases worldwide due to lack of sanitary birthing practices where the umbilical cord may be cut with contaminated tools.