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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Anthrax found in two heroin users | Anthrax found in two heroin users |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Health agencies across Scotland have been placed on alert after a drug user who died in a Glasgow hospital tested positive for anthrax. | Health agencies across Scotland have been placed on alert after a drug user who died in a Glasgow hospital tested positive for anthrax. |
| A woman who injected heroin is also being treated for the effects of the infection. | A woman who injected heroin is also being treated for the effects of the infection. |
| Tests are also being carried out on a third drug user and a number of other cases are being investigated. | Tests are also being carried out on a third drug user and a number of other cases are being investigated. |
| Health officials believe the two may have taken contaminated heroin and an outbreak control team has been set up. | Health officials believe the two may have taken contaminated heroin and an outbreak control team has been set up. |
| The woman is being treated at the Victoria Infirmary, where the man died two days ago and doctors are waiting for the results of tests carried out on a third drug user at the city's Royal Infirmary. | The woman is being treated at the Victoria Infirmary, where the man died two days ago and doctors are waiting for the results of tests carried out on a third drug user at the city's Royal Infirmary. |
| We would like to reassure people that our purpose is to recover this substance in the interests of public safety. It is not about targeting drug users Strathclyde police spokesman | We would like to reassure people that our purpose is to recover this substance in the interests of public safety. It is not about targeting drug users Strathclyde police spokesman |
| At the moment, the cases are not being linked, though it is known all three had infections in areas of the body they had injected with heroin. | At the moment, the cases are not being linked, though it is known all three had infections in areas of the body they had injected with heroin. |
| Police and health officials are investigating whether contaminated heroin or a contaminated cutting agent may be responsible. | Police and health officials are investigating whether contaminated heroin or a contaminated cutting agent may be responsible. |
| Dr Syed Ahmed, consultant in public health medicine, said: "I urge all drug injecting heroin users to be extremely alert and to seek urgent medical advice if they experience an infection. | |
| "While this section of the community need to be on their guard the risk to the rest of the population - including close family members of the infected cases - is negligible. | "While this section of the community need to be on their guard the risk to the rest of the population - including close family members of the infected cases - is negligible. |
| "It is extremely rare for anthrax to be spread from person to person and there is no significant risk of airborne transmission from one person to another." | "It is extremely rare for anthrax to be spread from person to person and there is no significant risk of airborne transmission from one person to another." |
| 'Extremely rare' | 'Extremely rare' |
| The health board said it would investigate cases of drug injecting heroin users with serious soft tissue infections now or during the last four weeks. | The health board said it would investigate cases of drug injecting heroin users with serious soft tissue infections now or during the last four weeks. |
| Strathclyde Police said it was vital that if there was a contaminated batch of heroin on the streets that it was traced and recovered. | Strathclyde Police said it was vital that if there was a contaminated batch of heroin on the streets that it was traced and recovered. |
| A spokesman added: "Our number one priority is the safety and wellbeing of everyone in our communities. | A spokesman added: "Our number one priority is the safety and wellbeing of everyone in our communities. |
| Anthrax is a bacterial infection usually found in hoofed animals | Anthrax is a bacterial infection usually found in hoofed animals |
| "We would appeal to drug users to come forward if they have any information that may enable us to trace its source. | "We would appeal to drug users to come forward if they have any information that may enable us to trace its source. |
| "We would like to reassure people that our purpose is to recover this substance in the interests of public safety. It is not about targeting drug users." | "We would like to reassure people that our purpose is to recover this substance in the interests of public safety. It is not about targeting drug users." |
| Anthrax is an acute bacterial infection most commonly found in hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep and goats. | Anthrax is an acute bacterial infection most commonly found in hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep and goats. |
| It normally infects humans when they inhale or ingest anthrax spores, but cannot be passed from person to person. | It normally infects humans when they inhale or ingest anthrax spores, but cannot be passed from person to person. |
| The last death from anthrax in Scotland was in 2006 when Christopher Norris died after inhaling the spores. | The last death from anthrax in Scotland was in 2006 when Christopher Norris died after inhaling the spores. |
| The 50-year-old craftsman, from Stobs, near Hawick, made drums with materials such as untreated animal hides. | The 50-year-old craftsman, from Stobs, near Hawick, made drums with materials such as untreated animal hides. |
| Last November, drum-maker Fernando Gomez, who is thought to have inhaled anthrax spores while handling imported animal skins, died in hospital in London. | Last November, drum-maker Fernando Gomez, who is thought to have inhaled anthrax spores while handling imported animal skins, died in hospital in London. |
| The 35-year-old Spanish folk musician had been in the intensive care unit for several days. | The 35-year-old Spanish folk musician had been in the intensive care unit for several days. |
| Five people died and 17 others were ill in a series of anthrax attacks in the US in 2001. | Five people died and 17 others were ill in a series of anthrax attacks in the US in 2001. |