Number of U.S. tetanus cases from 1980 to 2022, by year

In 2022, there were around 28 cases of tetanus in the United States. The annual number of tetanus cases in the United States has decreased steadily over the past few decades, and in the years 2018 and 2019 there were no reported cases. The decrease in tetanus cases in the United States and around the world is mostly due to high rates of vaccination.

What is tetanus?

Tetanus is an infection caused by bacteria that live in the environment. Spores of tetanus bacteria are often found in soil and dust and enter the body through broken skin, such as puncture wounds. Tetanus cannot be spread from one person to another. One of the most common symptoms of tetanus is a tightening of the jaw muscles, leading tetanus to often be called "lockjaw". Other symptoms include muscle spasms, muscle stiffness, trouble swallowing, seizures, headache, and fever. Like in the United States, cases of tetanus have decreased since the year 1980 for every region around the world. In 2022, there were a total of 6,651 cases of tetanus worldwide. The highest number of cases was found in Africa, however the year prior the Eastern Mediterranean reported the most cases.

Tetanus vaccination

Vaccination is the best way to protect against tetanus and most cases of tetanus in the United States are among people who have not been vaccinated. There are multiple vaccinations that protect against tetanus as well as other diseases such as DTap, DT, Tdap, and Td. Tetanus vaccinations are safe and effective and recommended for people of all ages, with children receiving multiple vaccinations and adults recommended to get vaccinated every 10 years. As of 2022, around 94 percent of one-year-olds in the United States had received the recommended three doses of the combined diphtheria, tetanus toxoid, and pertussis (DTP3) vaccine.