Deadly Diseases and Epidemics - Tetanus (101p)

Tetanus is a very serious, potentially fatal disease that typically occurs in people who have not been vaccinated. Caused by Clostridium tetani, it generally enters the body through a deep wound in the skin, such as a puncture caused by stepping on a nail. While rare in the United States and other developed countries, tetanus kills approximately 300,000 people a year worldwide. Tetanus describes the characteristics of the disease, which includes powerful muscle contractions and a form of paralysis called