Urgent warning for rare disease appearing across the country as woman becomes the first Australian to die from it in 30 years
- First tetanus death in NSW for 30 years
- Tetanus doesn’t spread, it’s an infection
- The major risk is from untreated cuts
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Health authorities are urging people to get vaccinated for tetanus after three recent cases in NSW, including one death that was the first in the state for 30 years.
NSW Health Director of Communicable Diseases Christine Selvey said older Australians in particular should ensure they are up to date with their tetanus jab.
‘Tetanus is a rare, but potentially fatal disease. Vaccination is the best protection,’ Dr Selvey said on Thursday.
The bacterial infection mostly occurs in older people, usually women, whose vaccination has lapsed.
Doctors have revealed contact with contaminated soil can lead to tetanus (stock image)
There has been a spike in tetanus cases in Australia in 2023
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A Sydney woman in her 80s died on April 1 from tetanus, following two other recent cases – a woman in her 80s from Sydney and a woman in her 70s from northern NSW.
They are the first cases reported in NSW since 2019 and the death is the first since 1993.
‘This serves as a reminder for all older Australians to check their tetanus vaccination status,’ Dr Selvey said.
In all cases, tetanus was acquired from a minor leg wound that was contaminated by garden soil.
If the bacteria gets into wounds, it produces a toxin that attacks the nervous system. The disease does not spread person to person.
Adolescents and adults who have never had a tetanus shot should receive three doses, and booster doses at 10 and 20 years after the primary course.
Not one but three jabs are recommended to immunise someone against tetanus
