Geospatial Disparities Among Tetanus Cases — United States, 2009–2023
- Presentation Day/Time: Friday, April 24, 9:25 AM
- Presenter: Avnika Amin, PhD, MSPH, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Division of Bacterial Diseases
The Issue
- Tetanus is a rare but serious disease that kills 12.4% of people who become ill with it in the United States.
What We Did
- We looked at the incidence of tetanus cases by county-level characteristics that could indicate different levels of exposure to the bacteria that causes tetanus or different access to health care that can help prevent tetanus, such as vaccination and appropriate post-wound care.
What We Found
- We found that rurality and low vehicle access in rural counties were both associated with higher tetanus incidence.
What This Means
- These findings may indicate potentially modifiable challenges to health care access and different exposures to the bacteria that causes tetanus, which can help inform public health efforts to prevent the disease.
