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- There were 130 cases of tetanus in the U.S. between 1998 and 2000, virtually all of them preventable through proper immunization. (1)
- Approximately 9% of annual tetanus cases occur in individuals less than 20 years of age. Some experts also believe that the number of actual cases is under-reported.
- Rusty nails are not the only way to contract tetanus. In fact, two cases recently reported in Puerto Rico, were caused by splinter wounds.(2)
- According to the CDC, the percentage of tetanus cases among persons aged 29-59 years old has increased during the last decade; previously, most cases were among persons aged >60 years. (3)
- In 2003 the CDC released its Tetanus & Surveillance Summary, analyzing U.S. tetanus cases from 1998 through 2000. It revealed that the disease is reaching younger age groups (aged < 20 years),(4) and that 70 percent of tetanus cases in the U.S. over the last two decades were among persons 40 years of age or older.
- Despite the official recommendations for adults to get Td boosters every 10 years, the CDC estimates that 53% of U.S. adults over the age of 20 are not adequately protected against tetanus and diphtheria. (5)
- 91% of children between the ages of 6 and 11 years are protected against both tetanus and diphtheria from their childhood immunizations, but protection declines to 80% among those between the ages of 12 and 19 years. (5)
- Despite the adolescent immunization recommendations of various government and medical organizations, 35 million U.S. adolescents fail to receive at least one recommended vaccine, putting them at risk of contracting a vaccine-preventable disease. (6)
- Unlike many other vaccine-preventable diseases, tetanus is not transmitted from person-to-person. Tetanus is caused by a common bacterium that is widespread in our environment, and any open wound presents the opportunity for an infection.
- Tetanus bacteria can enter the body through a tiny pinprick or scratch - even from splinters - although deep puncture wounds or cuts made by nails or knives are especially susceptible to tetanus infection. (7)
- Diphtheria is contracted by inhaling the bacteria from an infected person. The disease is still common outside the U.S., and some strains of the germ continue to circulate in parts of the North America.
- Travel destinations where diphtheria is still common include certain parts of Africa, Central America, the Caribbean, the former Soviet republic and Asia. (8)
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tetanus surveillance - United States, 1998-2000. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2003; 52(SS-3):1-12.
- CDC. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Atlanta, GA; 2002, July 19, Vol. 51, No.28.
- CDC. Tetanus Surveillance--United States, 1995-97. In: CDC Surveillance Summaries, July 3, 1998. MMWR 1998; 47 (No. SS-2): 1-13.
- CDC. Tetanus Surveillance Summary - United States 1998-2000
- McQuillan. Annals of Internal Medicine. Serologic Immunity to Tetanus and Diphtheria in the United States, 2002, May 7; Vo. 136, No. 9.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Bonnie M. Word, MD, presentation at National Immunization Awareness Month press conference, July 11, 2004
- CDC. Pink Book-Tetanus. 2004. http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/pink/tetanus.pdf
- CDC. Pink Book-Diphtheria. 2004. http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/pink/dip.pdf
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