Tetanus is a severe but short-lived, life threatening condition caused by infection with a bacterium known as Clostridium tetani. Tetanus is one of the main causes of death, serious illness and veterinary expense for our baboons undergoing rehabilitation at CARE and it is easily prevented through immunisations.

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Tetanus spreads through the bloodstream and affects the nervous system, blocking the nerve signals from the spinal cord to the muscles. This causes muscle spasms (involuntary contractions) and rigidity (stiffness) throughout the body, particularly in the neck, face and jaw (lockjaw).

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Tetanus can eventually lead to respiratory failure, whereby the victim no longer has control over breathing, difficulties with eating, choking, heart attack and in many cases death after painful suffering.