Senior police officers said today they were looking at “possible links and causes” in the six fatal Scottish cases and six other confirmed anthrax poisonings, and are trying to trace the source of the drug.

The death of the Dundee addict, named locally as James Wylie and thought to have been a long-term user of heroin, was confirmed yesterday.

In addition, a female patient in Fife is still under investigation and test results are awaited. She checked herself out of hospital on Wednesday. So far, it has not been confirmed whether or not the woman has been infected by anthrax spores.

The other confirmed poisonings and fatalities have been in the NHS Lanarkshire and Greater Glasgow and Clyde areas.

Gordon Meldrum, director general of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency and spokesman for senior Scottish officers on drugs issues, said, “The police service is now co-ordinating the investigation into a number of drug related deaths across the country in order to gather as much information as possible about possible links and causes.

“Illegal drugs are often prepared in unhygienic surroundings and can be vulnerable to contamination from various harmful agents.

“Those involved in the trafficking of drugs are driven by profit and have no care for the harm they can cause or the health of those who take these potentially lethal drugs.

“It is highly probable that the contamination of heroin by anthrax is accidental and there is a history of batches of heroin being contaminated in the past.”

“Production processes can be basic and often be conducted in areas where there is contamination from animal carcases or faeces.

“Our priority remains to reduce the harm to drug users and the communities they live in and all cases will be investigated and reported, where appropriate, to the procurator fiscal.

“Health advice is available from the NHS and anyone who suffers unusual symptoms should seek immediate assistance.

“Investigations will continue and anyone who may have information should contact local police or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.”

A spokesperson for NHS Tayside today confirmed the health authority is not treating anyone else suspected of being infected with anthrax.

NHS staff across Tayside have been alerted to the Dundee case and have been ordered to take suitable precautions when dealing with patients with substance abuse issues.

Addicts have been told to keep vigilant for any possible symptoms or signs of infection, which can begin with a red spot at the point of injection that quickly turns black.

‘DOZENS MORE COULD DIE’ PREDICTION

It has been predicted that dozens more people could be killed by the anthrax-contaminated heroin (writes Alan Wilson).

The outbreak began in Glasgow, but the appearance of anthrax in Dundee and Fife suggests users around the country are now at risk.

Experts say there is no way of knowing how much contaminated heroin is on the streets and how many addicts may die because of it.

Andrew Horne, director of operations at drug and alcohol charity Addaction, said the death toll could mirror that of 2000 when heroin contaminated with the flesh-eating bug necrotising fasciitis killed 43 addicts in Scotland.

“It really depends on the size of the batch and how it became contaminated,” he said.

“The outbreak in 2000 lasted about six weeks and then we never heard of it again, but because it is all illegal there is no way of knowing.”

The Dundee victim was the 11th case of anthrax poisoning in Scotland since the middle of December and the fifth confirmed death. There are now six patients currently undergoing treatment for anthrax.

Seven of the confirmed cases have been in the Greater Glasgow NHS area, where the outbreak started, and three in North Lanarkshire. The Dundee case was the first confirmed case on this side of the country.

Anthrax is carried by many animals in Afghanistan, from where most of Scotland’s heroin originates. Although it can be deadly, it is very rare for it to be spread from person to person.

There are three forms of the human disease — cutaneous (skin), inhalation and ingestion — and in 95% of cases the infection is skin-based.

Dr Christopher McGuigan, NHS Tayside consultant in public health medicine said, “Drug injecting carries with it a range of risks, including the risk of severe life threatening infections.

“While those who inject drugs need to be on alert, the risk to others, including close family members of anyone infected, is very small.”