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| Situation Update No. 29 Ref.no.: EH-20091217-24200-GBR
Situation Update No. 29
On 2010-02-25 at 10:24:55 [UTC]
Event: Epidemic Hazard
Location: United Kingdom Scotland Glasgow
Number of Deads: 10 person(s)
Number of Infected: 18 person(s)
Situation: A heroin addict from Dumfries and Galloway is being treated in hospital for anthrax. The 44-year-old man is the region’s first victim of the outbreak that has killed 10 drug users across Scotland. The man was admitted to Dumfries Infirmary on February 16 and transferred five days later to Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Twenty four heroin users have caught anthrax, all but two in Scotland. The tenth death was confirmed in Fife at the weekend. Hugh Robertson of Dumfries and Galloway’s Integrated Drugs Service, which helps addicts kick the habit, is urging users to stop taking heroin. He told the Standard: “Any heroin on sale could be contaminated by anthrax which means drug users in Dumfries and Galloway have to be extra vigilant. “Heroin users face the danger of anthrax poisoning if they continue taking the drug. The only advice I have is to urge drug users not to inject heroin as that is the only way they will be safe from anthrax, however I understand that can be difficult for many users.” Mr Robertson added: “Evidence has shown that all confirmed cases have been isolated incidents and follow no pattern. That is very unusual as you would expect to see several users from one area becoming infected but it hasn’t happened like that.” Dr Colin Ramsay, head of the national Outbreak Control Team, also urged users to stop taking the drug. He warned: “There is no way to tell if your heroin is contaminated and there is no way to prepare or take heroin that will make it safe if it has anthrax contamination.” “While we appreciate that this may be extremely difficult advice to follow, it remains the only public health protection advice possible due to the nature of anthrax infection.” Extensive police inquiries into the source of the contaminated batch and where it originated from are ongoing. Meanwhile, drug users are being urged to engage with local treatment services and be aware of the symptoms of anthrax poisoning. They include swelling, redness, abscesses or ulcers on skin where the needle has entered. Smoking heroin also carries a risk, and infection may result in fever or other flu-like symptoms. Anyone experiencing symptoms is urged to seek treatment. Anthrax is a deadly bacterial infection which occurs mostly in animals in Asia and Africa. |  | | | |
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