Two recent reports from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found 402 reported tetanus cases and 37 deaths between 2009 and 2023. Medical treatment should be sought promptly after deep puncture wounds, burns, frostbite or injuries contaminated with soil or animal waste, she said. Proper wound cleaning, a tetanus containing vaccine and, in some cases, tetanus immune globulin can prevent infection after exposure. The CDC found that nearly half of infected patients with known vaccination histories had never received a tetanus vaccine. Dr Wen said adults should check their vaccination records, avoid ignoring contaminated wounds and remember that tetanus remains present in the environment.