India EliminatesMaternal and Neonatal Tetanus (MNT),a Disease That Will Spare Thousands Of Mothers And Newborns

 

The World Health Organization(WHO) declared that India has officially eliminated Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus (MNT), a disease that predominantly plagues low-income patients. Just a few decades ago, the country reported about 150,000 cases a year, according to WHO.

The disease is typically transmitted when the umbilical cord is cut in an unsanitary way and nearly all newborns infected with Tetanus die, according to UNICEF.

MNT usually occurs in developing countries where patients have limited or no access to proper treatment facilities and presents with severe muscle spasms.

Tetanus was declared eliminated in India once it was able to reduce MNT to less than one case per 1,000 live births every year.

The declaration brings the total number of countries that have eliminated tetanus to 37.

Still, the disease remains a risk in 22 countries, including Afghanistan, Kenya and Haiti.