Contaminated heroin blamed for 36 deaths in Britain

Mysterious deaths among drug users prompted the research that found the deadly bacteria

Health officials warn users to smoke, not inject

June 15, 2000
Web posted at: 9:18 p.m. EDT (0118 GMT)

LONDON -- Health officials in Britain are warning heroin users to smoke the drug instead of injecting it after a contaminated batch caused as many as 36 deaths in Britain and Ireland since May.

Scientists at the Public Health Laboratory Service in Cardiff, Wales, and experts at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control in Altanta pinpointed a highly toxic bacterium as the cause of the deaths. They were assisting researchers in Glasgow, Scotland, where 17 victims died.

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The little-known Clostridium Novyi type A is a micro-organism that grows in soil and animals. Although not usually found in humans, clostridium's dormant spores can awaken and produce toxins.

"It's not the bacteria themselves circulating in the body; they stay local," said Dr. Brian Duerden, a researcher. "The toxins do the real damage."

Symptoms includes swelling and abscesses and are followed by toxic shock and death.

Drug addicts in Scotland and Ireland and in the northern English cities of Manchester and Liverpool died mysteriously after injecting heroin.

Victims apparently were intravenous drug users who injected the heroin into muscles rather than veins because of the poor condition of their veins.

The deadly batch of herion has caused at least seventeen deaths in Glasgow

First outbreak

It is the first time the bacteria has been found in an outbreak among drug users.

Experts speculate a batch of heroin was accidentally contaminated with the bacteria when the drug was being mixed with other substances prior to sale.

However, what happened remains a mystery. "We don't know and we may well never find out. We are not even certain we have any samples of the heroin that causes the problem," Dr. Laurence Gruer of the Greater Glasgow Health Board said.

Scientists still want to clarify exactly how the bacteria contributed to the condition.

"We also want to learn more about why these people became sick and others didn't," Dr. Jai Lingappa of the CDC said.

Health officials said infections are common in drug injectors but each of the Glasgow victims had very high white blood cell counts.

Antibiotics can kill the bacteria if it is found early and surgeons can remove infected tissue. However, the resulting toxin is very poisonous and resistant to the antibiotics.

Senior correspondent Richard Blystone, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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