Heroin users warned of Anthrax contamination

Barcelona News.Net
Monday 1st March, 2010

London heroin users are succumbing to the deadly Anthrax virus.

Health authorities in the British capital have warned that a batch of heroin contaminated with the disease is probably circulating in Europe.

A total of 12 people have died of anthrax infections in Europe since the first cases emerged in Scotland in December, when a contaminated batch of heroin made its way onto the streets.

Anthrax is a fairly common bacteria whose spores have been used in the past as biological weapons.

It is an acute infectious disease caused by spores of bacillus anthracis bacteria and occurs most frequently in wild and domestic animals in Asia, Africa and parts of Europe.

Experts say the heroin is unlikely to have been deliberately contaminated, with no evidence it is spreading into the general population, as the anthrax spores generally need to be inhaled.

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