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| Situation Update No. 6 Ref.no.: EH-20091217-24200-GBR
Situation Update No. 6
On 2009-12-23 at 04:06:34 [UTC]
Event: Epidemic Hazard
Location: United Kingdom Scotland Glasgow
Number of Deads: 1 person(s)
Number of Infected: 3 person(s)
Situation: The man was last night fighting for his life - as a FOURTH patient was being tested for the killer bug at the same hospital. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde confirmed the male drug user - being treated in isolation at the city's Royal Infirmary - was suffering from the bacterial infection. All cases of junkies who suffered a severe soft tissue infection in the past four weeks will now be investigated as officials try to trace the drug's source. It's thought anthrax spores may have got into a batch of heroin as it was cut with animal bone meal. Last week we told how a 37-year-old addict died of the killer bug while the male junkie and another female victim were being treated in hospital. The woman, who earlier tested positive, yesterday remained "stable" at the city's Victoria Infirmary. Dr Syed Ahmed, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, said: "I urge all drug-injecting heroin users to be extremely alert."
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Health officials in Scotland have confirmed a third case of anthrax-contaminated heroin sickening a heroin user in Glasgow, Scotland. The man is now in critical condition at an area hospital. One man died last week from the anthrax contamination, and a woman was also infected. Officials are also now testing for a fourth possible infection. Health officials believe the anthrax may be from a cutting agent or from the heroin itself. They’re urging drug users and health providers throughout Great Britain to be extremely vigilant for symptoms of anthrax poisoning. |  | | | |
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