How much progress have we made against tetanus in mothers and newborns?

Tetanus in newborns and mothers is a devastating, preventable disease that still threatens families in many parts of the world. A new report tracking progress from 2000 to 2018 offers a hopeful snapshot: 45 countries have now eliminated the disease, reported cases of newborn tetanus have fallen by 90%, and estimated deaths have declined by 85%. This report is based on worldwide surveillance data and estimates, which means it shows a strong, positive association between global efforts and these outcomes. It's important to remember this is an observational report—it shows what happened alongside vaccination and clean birth campaigns, but it can't prove those efforts alone caused the drop. Still, seeing such a dramatic decline in cases and deaths over nearly two decades is a powerful sign that the world is moving in the right direction.