Pubdate: Sat, 23 Feb 2002
Source: Irish Independent (Ireland)
Copyright: Independent Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd
Contact:  http://www.independent.ie/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/213
Author: Nicola Anderson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

FEARS OVER CONTAMINATED HEROIN

Four cases of botulism in heroin users in Britain has prompted the National 
Disease Surveillance Centre to launch an alert over possible contaminated 
heroin circulating in Ireland.

The latest batch of contaminated heroin is not believed to contain the 
strain of flesh-eating bacteria which killed eight people in Ireland and 35 
in Britain two years ago.

Heroin users should seek immediate medical attention should they develop 
unusual symptoms such as blurred vision, difficulty swallowing, speech 
paralysis and breathing problems.

British authorities are investigating four suspected cases of wound 
botulism, possibly associated with injecting heroin.

There have been no botulism cases in drug users here, but the NDSC believes 
the chance of this occurring cannot be ruled out.
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