Pubdate: Tue, 16 May 2000
Source: Herald, The (UK)
Copyright: 2000 The Herald
Contact:  195 Albion Street Glasgow G1 1QP
Fax: +44 (0)141 302 7809
Website: http://www.theherald.co.uk/
Author: Lorna MaClaren

FIVE MORE FELLED BY HEROIN SICKNESS

FIVE more drug addicts fell victim to the heroin sickness sweeping 
Strathclyde yesterday, as support agencies in Fife were told a contaminated 
batch of drugs may be circulating in their area.

The new cases, which came to light over the weekend and who were last night 
being treated in Glasgow hospitals, bring to 25 the total number of addicts 
affected by the tainted heroin, the origin of which remains unknown.

Nine people, eight of them women, have died from the illness so far. All 
those infected have developed serious abscesses as a result of injecting 
into muscle or accidentally outside a vein.

It is thought more women than men have been struck down as they tend to 
inject more often into muscle tissue because their veins are more likely to 
suffer collapse.

Greater Glasgow Health Board yesterday said the new intake of addicts had 
similar symptoms to the drug users already admitted to hospital with the 
illness.

"Post-mortem examinations have been carried out on eight cases," a 
spokeswoman for the board said. "Their deaths have all been certified by 
the pathologists as due to multiple organ failure consistent with 
overwhelming infection."

But the board said tests of heroin had so far revealed no positive results. 
"The most likely explanation remains that there has been an unusual 
contaminant of a batch of heroin which results in severe damage to the 
muscle or other tissue into which is has been injected. This may allow 
otherwise relatively harmless bacteria to cause serious infection."

Meanwhile, police and health authorities in Fife said they believed a 
contaminated batch of heroin was being sold thought to be likely to lead to 
infection.

Mr David Mellor, chairman of Fife Drug and Alcohol Action Team, said that 
although there was no evidence of a connection with the deaths in 
Strathclyde, the heroin circulating in his area had prompted "cause for 
concern".

He said: "Information has been received that heroin, diluted with an 
unusual contaminant, is being sold in Fife. Anyone with information 
concerning the source of this or of any other drug should contact police."
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