Tetanus Boy Oregon

About Tetanus Boy Oregon

In 2017, a 6 year old unvaccinated boy in Oregon contracted tetanus from a cut on his forehead. He spent 57 days in the hospital, 47 in intensive care. His treatment cost 811,929. The boy was the first pediatric tetanus case in Oregon in over 30 years. Despite the near death experience, his parents refused subsequent vaccinations including the DTaP booster. The case was reported in the CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Tetanus spores are ubiquitous in soil and cannot be eradicated. The disease causes severe muscle spasms including lockjaw. The case illustrates the consequences of vaccine refusal. Before vaccination, approximately 500 to 600 tetanus cases occurred annually in the US. Universal childhood vaccination has reduced tetanus to approximately 30 cases per year.