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25/07/2012
Confirmed Case of Anthrax In Lanarkshire
It has been confirmed that a drug user in Lanarkshire is being treated for anthrax.
Highlighting that anthrox cannot be passed from person to person, the area's health authority said the patient was being treated at one of its hospitals and was in a critical but stable condition.
It is thought the injecting drug user could have contracted the anthrax bacteria from a contaminated batch of heroin circulating in the area.
Anthrax is an acute bacterial infection most commonly found in hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep and goats, which normally infects humans when they inhale or ingest anthrax spores.
Symptoms can include a raised, itchy, inflamed pimple, which turns into a blister with extensive swelling. The lesion is usually painless, and will later turn into a black eschar.
If left untreated the infection can spread to cause blood poisoning.
It can take up to a week for symptoms to develop after a person comes into contact with anthrax.
David Cromie, consultant in public health medicine at NHS Lanarkshire, said: "It is possible that heroin contaminated with anthrax may be circulating in Lanarkshire and potentially other parts of Scotland.
"There have been recent reports of anthrax from contaminated heroin in other western European countries, the most recent reported outbreak being in Germany.”
The worst outbreak of anthrax in the UK for 50 years occurred among drug users in Scotland between 2009 and 2010.
A total of 119 cases were recorded with a total of 14 deaths during the outbreak.
(H)
Highlighting that anthrox cannot be passed from person to person, the area's health authority said the patient was being treated at one of its hospitals and was in a critical but stable condition.
It is thought the injecting drug user could have contracted the anthrax bacteria from a contaminated batch of heroin circulating in the area.
Anthrax is an acute bacterial infection most commonly found in hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep and goats, which normally infects humans when they inhale or ingest anthrax spores.
Symptoms can include a raised, itchy, inflamed pimple, which turns into a blister with extensive swelling. The lesion is usually painless, and will later turn into a black eschar.
If left untreated the infection can spread to cause blood poisoning.
It can take up to a week for symptoms to develop after a person comes into contact with anthrax.
David Cromie, consultant in public health medicine at NHS Lanarkshire, said: "It is possible that heroin contaminated with anthrax may be circulating in Lanarkshire and potentially other parts of Scotland.
"There have been recent reports of anthrax from contaminated heroin in other western European countries, the most recent reported outbreak being in Germany.”
The worst outbreak of anthrax in the UK for 50 years occurred among drug users in Scotland between 2009 and 2010.
A total of 119 cases were recorded with a total of 14 deaths during the outbreak.
(H)
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Anthrax Outbreak Feared After Death In Blackpool
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17 November 2008
Anthrax Found At Dead Musician's Workshop
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Drum Maker Treated For Anthrax Inhalation
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Drum Maker Treated For Anthrax Inhalation
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16 August 2006
Man dies from anthrax in Scotland
A 50-year-old man has died from anthrax in the first case to occur in Scotland for almost 20 years. The man, who has been named locally as Christopher 'Pascal' Norris, died in July after suffering from septicaemia. However, later tests revealed that anthrax was the most likely cause of his illness.
Man dies from anthrax in Scotland
A 50-year-old man has died from anthrax in the first case to occur in Scotland for almost 20 years. The man, who has been named locally as Christopher 'Pascal' Norris, died in July after suffering from septicaemia. However, later tests revealed that anthrax was the most likely cause of his illness.
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