Drug user dies after contracting Anthrax

Blog home
Recent Posts
Categories
Blog Archive
Popular Posts

• 19 Dec

   

  The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said a person who injected heroin died from being infected with Anthrax.

  There has been a small outbreak of cases in Europe, with 13 cases identified by health officials since early June, and local agencies are being advised to talk to their service users who inject drugs about the risk of anthrax infection.
  

  Six of the cases have occurred in the UK, including four in England, one in Scotland and one in Wales.

  The HPA said the source of the infection is presumed to be contaminated heroin, but it is "unclear" whether the British cases are linked to the European outbreak, which has affected drug users in Denmark, Germany and France.

  Anthrax is a bacterial infection and is primarily a disease of herbivorous mammals, though other animals and some birds can also contract it. Drug users can become infected when heroin is contaminated with anthrax spores.

  Dr Fortune Ncube, an expert in blood-borne viruses at the HPA, said:

  Anthrax can be cured with antibiotics, if treatment is started early. It is therefore important for medical professionals to be alert to the possibility of anthrax infection in heroin users presenting with signs and symptoms - which include severe soft tissue infections or blood poisoning - to prevent any delays in providing treatment.It is possible that further cases may be seen in people who inject heroin.
  
  People who use drugs may become infected with anthrax when the heroin they use is contaminated with anthrax spores.
  
  This could be a source of infection if injected, smoked or snorted - there is no safe route for consuming heroin or other drugs that may be contaminated with anthrax spores.

  Dr James Sedgwick, interim director of the HPA's Kent health protection unit, said:

  In light of this recent case in Medway, we have advised local agencies to talk to their service users who inject drugs about the risk of anthrax infection.
  
  People who inject drugs often experience skin infection but we strongly advise them not to ignore signs such as redness or excessive swelling around injection sites, or other symptoms of general illness such a high temperature, chills, severe headaches or breathing difficulties.
  
  They should seek medical advice quickly in such circumstances generally but particularly now because we have concerns that some batches of heroin in circulation may be contaminated with anthrax. Early treatment with antibiotics is essential for a successful recovery.

  

  Source: Guardian

  By Support Solutions

Related articles

• 24 Jul

  

  

  Closure of London substance misuse clinic

  Over the past two years the clinic has lost around £600,000 a year which renders the service "financially unviable". Trust chief executive Claire Murdoch told the July board meeting that, while she...

  By Laura Matthews
• 30 Apr

  

  

  Young people being treated for substance abuse

  Freedom of Information requests have revealed hundreds of young people are at risk of becoming addicts or have begun abusing alcohol and substances themselves, leaving many charities requesting...

  By Laura Matthews
• 28 Feb

  

  

  Legal highs summit to be held by government

  Norman Baker, the Home Office minister, has said that the substances were a "very serious issues" for public health. He added that they were dangerous as people buying the hallucinogenic drugs did...

  By Laura Matthews
• 21 Nov

  

  

  OECD: Antidepressant use on the rise

  Figures show that doctors in countries with more wealth are writing prescriptions for more than one in ten adults. Iceland, Australia, Canada and other European Nordic countries are leading the way,...

  By Laura Matthews
• 30 Sep

  

  

  NHS could supply drugs to addicts says UK police chief

  Mike Barton, one of England's most senior police officers, has called for class-A drugs to be decriminalised and for the policy of outright prohibition to be radically revised, reports the...

  By Laura Matthews
• 19 Aug

  

  

  Chief Medical Officer Says Drug Addiction Is Not A Criminal Issue

  She said:"Of course it's a medical problem, I mean addiction is a medical problem, and it becomes a public health problem and then our society is choosing to treat that as a criminal justice...

  By Abimbola Duro-David
• 13 Aug

  

  

  'Smart Drug' Fears Expected As A Result Of Rise In ADHD Prescriptions

  Officials at the watchdog said:"Health workers should carefully monitor the drugs because they have a potential for diversion or misuse."There has been a 56% rise in the administered prescriptions...

  By Abimbola Duro-David
• 25 Jul

  

  

  Local resident supports people suffering with drug and alcohol addiction

  Dave Guy is a founding member of Marah, a Christian charitable organisation committed to supporting vulnerable and marginalised adults in the Stroud District, helping them to move on from their...

  By Emily Wightman
• 22 Jul

  

  Substance Misuse Service Raises Awareness

  Rotherham's 'Know the Score' provides drug treatment and relapse prevention for children and young people up to the age of 19 who have problematic drug and alcohol use.  The service is multi-agency...

  By Support Solutions
• 02 Jul

  

  

  Salvation Army Plan to Tackle Substace Misuse

   The Salvation Army today announced an expansion of their social work, to increase outreach work to support communities with alcohol dependency and its effects on health, families and futures.The...

  By Support Solutions