Tetanus in Poland in 2016

THE PURPOSE of the STUDY: The purpose of the study was to provide data on tetanus incidence in 2016 in the basic categories of epidemiological surveillance.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study is based on the individual forms of tetanus cases submitted to the NIZP-PZH Epidemiology Department and the data of the bulletin “Infectious Diseases and Poisoning in Poland in 2016.

RESULTS: The number of tetanus cases in 2016 was 12, exactly as it was in the previous year 2015. Among the infected people there were six men and six women. Among the infected people two men and one women died. All the fatalities were in the age groups of 70 and older.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS: The environmental nature of tetanus infections makes the immunity of individual exposed persons the basic preventive tool, which underlines the role of individual vaccinations.