Tetanus: a silent killer of mothers and newborns
NEW YORK (January 11, 2010) — Neonatal tetanus strikes rapidly, killing newborns soon after birth. The disease occurs when a bacterium, Clostridium tetani, enters the body through an open wound or puncture. The bacteria spores are ubiquitous – they live in the soil, in animal dung, and in faeces and a newborn can be infected by unhygienic birthing practices, such as cutting the umbilical cord with unsterile instruments or treating it with contaminated dressings.
Tetanus is called the “silent killer” because so many of these women and newborns die at home and both the births and the deaths go unreported. UNICEF and its partners are working to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus from the 58 countries where it is still a public health problem.
