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| Situation Update No. 3 Ref.no.: BH-20100205-24812-GBR
Situation Update No. 3
On 2010-02-10 at 14:24:55 [UTC]
Event: Biological Hazard
Location: United Kingdom Capital City London
Number of Deads: 1 person(s)
Situation: A drug user has become the first person to die in England after testing positive for anthrax linked to heroin, it has been announced. The unnamed user, from Blackpool, is the second case of drug-related anthrax in England after one was confirmed in London last week. That person is currently receiving treatment in a London hospital. Nine drug users have died in Scotland, which has seen a total of 19 anthrax cases linked to heroin, and one case has been seen in Germany. Similarities between the cases suggest that the heroin, or a contaminated cutting agent mixed with the heroin, is the likely source of infection. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said it was carrying out an investigation with NHS Blackpool. Professor Qutub Syed, director of the HPA in the North West, said: "We are working closely with NHS Blackpool to monitor the situation. "I'd like to reassure people that the risk to the general population, including close family members of the deceased, is negligible. "It is extremely rare for anthrax to be spread from person to person and there has been no evidence of a significant risk of infection being passed on in the current situation in Scotland." Dr Arif Rajpura, director of public health from NHS Blackpool, said: "While public health investigations are ongoing, it must be assumed that all heroin in the North West carries the risk of anthrax contamination." |  | | | |
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