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Addicts warned in anthrax scare 'No new cases' in anthrax scare
(about 5 hours later)
Heroin users in Scotland are being urged to make use of help services after a drug user who died in a Glasgow hospital tested positive for anthrax. Health officials have said that no new cases of anthrax have emerged 48 hours after two heroin users in Glasgow tested positive for the infection.
Rehabilitation charity, Turning Point Scotland, said addicts should use needle exchanges and avoid sharing. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said officials across the country were still looking out for possible new cases.
The advice comes as a woman who injected heroin is also being treated for the effects of the infection. A man and woman in the city's Victoria Infirmary tested positive for anthrax. The man died on Wednesday.
Tests are also being carried out on a third drug user and a number of other cases are being investigated. Doctors are waiting for the results of tests carried out on a third drug user at Glasgow 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.
The last anthrax death in Scotland was in 2006
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.
The last anthrax death in Scotland was in 2006
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.
Ian Irvine, from Turning Point Scotland, said it was possible contaminated heroin may have been brought into the country. Speaking after a meeting of the outbreak control team on Friday, Dr Syed Ahmed, consultant in public health medicine, said: "The possible presence of a batch of heroin contaminated with anthrax makes drug injecting even riskier and even more dangerous.
He told BBC Radio Scotland it was often cut abroad with "God knows what" which brought purity levels down. "Once again, I urge injecting drug users to be on their guard and to seek urgent medical advice if they have experienced an infection or other serious symptoms."
He said: "A warning came out yesterday and they've gone round all service users that we're in touch with. The outbreak control team was told that the female patient with anthrax remained in a stable condition at the Victoria Infirmary.
"The message is - if you have a soft tissue injury get medical help immediately just in case." The male patient undergoing intensive care at Glasgow Royal Infirmary also remains in a stable condition.
Needle warning The post-mortem examination results on the man who died at the Victoria Infirmary are expected next week.
Mr Irvine said all support agencies could do in a situations like this was to promote harm reduction measures. Health authorities in the Highlands have said they have no reason to believe there is any link with the deaths of two men in Inverness from suspected drug use earlier this week.
Meanwhile, rehabilitation charity Turning Point Scotland has urged heroin users to make use of help services.
The charity's Ian Irvine said all support agencies could do in a situations like this was to promote harm reduction measures.
David, 30, has been a heroin addict for 15 yearsDavid, 30, has been a heroin addict for 15 years
He added: "One thing obviously is to encourage people to use needle exchanges so addicts are only getting clean needles. "One thing obviously is to encourage people to use needle exchanges so addicts are only getting clean needles," he said.
"We also try and encourage them to use their own needles and not share.""We also try and encourage them to use their own needles and not share."
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.