Tetanus - Annual Epidemiological Report for 2015

In 2015, 117 cases of tetanus, including 67 confirmed cases, were reported to TESSy. The notification rate was 0.03 cases per 100 000 population, slightly higher than in the previous year. Adults aged 65 and above were the most affected age group; in this age group, the notification rate for women was almost double that for men. Cases tended to occur more frequently in the warmer months, which are associated with higher levels of outdoor activity. The current epidemiology of tetanus in the EU/EEA may be explained by lower vaccination coverage or waning immunity in older populations. Due to the severity of tetanus, there is a need to maintain high vaccination rates in all age groups and to continue implementing/developing strategies to protect specific groups, and in particular the elderly, in countries with higher rates of disease.