The Tetanus Threat: Prevention Tips for Australians

Australia has experienced a recent spike in tetanus, a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. This bacterium can enter the body through open wounds and cause muscle stiffness, muscle spasms, and, in severe cases, death.

The Tetanus Threat: Prevention Tips for Australians

Australia has experienced a recent spike in tetanus, a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. This bacterium can enter the body through open wounds and cause muscle stiffness, muscle spasms, and, in severe cases, death.

At the beginning of April, a Sydney woman died from tetanus in the first recorded fatality in NSW since 1993. There have been two other NSW women who have contracted tetanus this year. Older Australians are being urged to get tetanus boosters, as vaccination is the best protection against it. Tetanus is a serious bacterial infection caused by Clostridium tetani, which produces a powerful toxin that affects the nervous system. The bacteria can enter the body through cuts, wounds, or scratches that are contaminated with the bacteria or its spores. It’s sometimes referred to as lockjaw because one of its most common symptoms is muscle stiffness in the jaw and neck.

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