Pubdate: Wed, 31 May 2000
Source: Independent, The (UK)
Copyright: 2000 Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd.
Contact:  1 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5DL
Website: http://www.independent.co.uk/
Author: Hugh Dougherty
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n713/a02.html

MYSTERY ILLNESS KILLS TWELFTH HEROIN ADDICT

A mystery illness affecting heroin addicts in Glasgow has claimed another 
life, bringing the death toll to 12. The outbreak is now being positively 
linked with a similar spate of deaths in Dublin, which has killed seven 
drug users. A total of 26 addicts in Glasgow and 14 drug users in Dublin 
have been affected by the illness.

Last week, tests at the chemical warfare research centre in Porton Down, 
Wiltshire, ruled out anthrax, which scientists had suggested may have 
caused the Glasgow outbreak.

All the Glasgow cases are believed to have injected directly into muscle 
tissue and have suffered severe inflammation around the site of the 
injection, followed by shock, collapse and in some cases death. The Irish 
cases followed a similar pattern except that most victims have been men, 
while more women were affected in Glasgow.

American medical experts have been called in to helpboth cities' 
investigations and tissue samples from people affected by the illness have 
been sent to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D