Tetanus in Lithuania is a rare disease – on average, 1–2 cases are registered annually. From 2011 to 2025, 23 cases of tetanus were registered in the country, of which 8 ended in death. Most of those who contracted tetanus were unvaccinated older adults. No cases of tetanus were registered last year, and this year 2 cases were registered in the Mažeikiai and Šakiai districts. The affected individuals were over 80 years old. Their vaccination status and circumstances of infection are unknown.
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Vaccination is recommended every 10 years
According to the Lithuanian Republic’s childhood preventive vaccination calendar, children are vaccinated with a vaccine that protects not only against tetanus but also against diphtheria and whooping cough at 2, 4, 6, 18 months, 6–7 years, and 15–16 years of age.
Protection against tetanus is also important for adults. The vaccine used for adult vaccination protects not only against tetanus but also against diphtheria. People aged 25 and older are vaccinated against these diseases every 10 years at the state’s expense.
According to NVSC data, in 2025, 50,429 people were vaccinated against diphtheria and tetanus with state funds, in 2024 – 53,688, and in 2023 – 44,280 adults. However, adults are quite reluctant to get vaccinated against tetanus preventively with state funds, and vaccination is most often performed post-exposure (e.g., due to deep skin and/or mucous membrane injuries, frostbite, burns, etc.).
“Although tetanus is not a common disease in Lithuania, its danger should not be underestimated. It is especially important that protection against tetanus is renewed in adulthood as well. The risk of contracting the disease increases when a person has not been vaccinated according to the full vaccination schedule or has not received a booster dose for a long time,” reminds Edita Jegelevičienė, advisor of the Infectious Diseases Management Department at NVSC.
Assessing tetanus risk after injury is important
The bacteria that cause tetanus are widespread in the environment; their spores can be found in soil, dust, as well as in the intestines of animals and humans. The spores are resistant to heat, cold, sunlight, and can survive in the environment for several years. Infection can occur when tetanus spores enter the body through damaged skin. The risk increases especially when injured by rusty or dirty garden and farm tools, punctures, cuts, as well as deeper wounds, burns, or other skin injuries.
It is important to know that tetanus does not spread from person to person.
“When working in the garden or cleaning the surroundings, it is important not to forget simple precautions – wear protective gloves, avoid injuries, and if injured, properly clean and care for the wound. However, it is equally important to ensure protection against tetanus – check when you were last vaccinated against tetanus and diphtheria. If injured, especially if the wound is deeper or contaminated and vaccination history is unknown, you should seek medical care, where, after assessing the situation, urgent tetanus immunoprophylaxis may be applied,” emphasizes the NVSC representative.
The first signs of tetanus usually appear about a week after infection, but symptoms can also manifest after a few days or later. The disease may begin with muscle twitching or stiffness, followed by painful muscle spasms, characteristic jaw stiffness, difficulty swallowing, and stiffness of neck and back muscles. In severe cases, breathing may be impaired. Complications such as heart failure, brain damage, pneumonia, and bone fractures may also occur. Untreated tetanus can be fatal.
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