Heroin User Diagnosed With Anthrax Infection

A heroin user has been diagnosed with an anthrax infection in Oxford, the Health Protection Agency has confirmed.

The latest case comes after two people who also injected drugs died from confirmed anthrax infections in Blackpool within a month of teach other in August and September.

There is an ongoing outbreak of anthrax among people who use intravenous drugs in a number of countries across Europe - with 12 cases now identified since early June, the HPA said.

The Oxford case brings the total affected in the UK to five - three in England, one in Scotland and one in Wales.

Experts said contaminated heroin was the most likely cause of the outbreak.

Dr Fortune Ncube, an expert in infections among people who inject drugs 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.

"There is no safe route for consuming heroin or other drugs that may be contaminated with anthrax spores."

Targeted information, including posters and leaflets, were sent out by the National Treatment Agency after the first case earlier this year.

Dr Eamonn O'Moore, director of the HPA's Thames Valley Health Protection Unit, said: "Injecting drug users 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."

He added: "They should seek medical advice quickly in such circumstances generally but particularly now because we have concerns that some batches of heroin in circulation in Oxfordshire and the wider Thames Valley may be contaminated with anthrax."