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  • Title: Neonatal tetanus: the final countdown.
    Journal: CVI Forum; 1994 Nov; (8):6-9. PubMed ID: 12348744.
    Abstract:
    Neonatal tetanus (NT) kills an estimated 500,000 newborn infants every year, as well as 30,000 mothers, who die from infection-related complications. The World Bank's 1993 World Development Report noted that among Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) diseases, the human and social toll of NT is second only to measles. Given the global public health burden of NT, the World Health Organization's governing body, the World Health Assembly, has called for the elimination of NT globally by 1995. To protect newborn infants against tetanus, anti-tetanus shots must be given to their mothers either during or before their pregnancies. The mothers then pass their antibodies against tetanus along to their fetuses. Only 45% of babies are born with the protective antibodies they need against NT. NT is clearly a disease of poverty, poor hygiene, and non-existent health services. In 50-80% of cases, Clostridium tetani, the causative organism, kills the infants its infects within approximately 1 week of birth. As such, routine surveillance systems generally record less than 5% of neonatal tetanus cases and deaths. Even though many countries have rid themselves of NT without relying exclusively upon vaccination, EPI officials believe vaccination is the most cost-effective, fastest way to achieve the goal of NT elimination.
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