| The 41-year-old man, understood to be from the Menzieshill area of Dundee and named locally as Robert Milne, died after injecting heroin laced with anthrax.
The batch of contaminated heroin has already claimed the life of another 55-year-old drug addict from Dundee, who died on Hogmanay after taking the drug.
The latest Dundee death is the seventh in Scotland since the anthrax scare began last month.
In total, 14 addicts have taken ill with anthrax infections in Scotland in recent weeks, and cases have previously been identified in both NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Lanarkshire.
One of the confirmed cases has also been reported in the NHS Fife area, where a woman is receiving treatment for the infection.
Health officials believe a bad batch of heroin or a contaminated cutting agent, which addicts mix with the substance, may be responsible for the infections and are now concerned at the growing spread of the cases throughout Scotland.
There are three forms of the anthrax human disease — cutaneous (skin), inhalation and ingestion — and in 95% of cases the infection is skin-based.
Health Protection Scotland said today it would be impossible to estimate the scale of the potential problem, but warned heroin users across the country to be aware of the serious risks.
Dr Colin Ramsay, consultant epidemiologist at Health Protection Scotland, said, “Cases of anthrax infection have now been confirmed in five health board areas across Scotland, indicating that heroin users all across the country need to be aware of the risks of a potentially contaminated supply.
“I would urge all users to stop using heroin immediately and contact local drug support services for help in stopping.
“If any heroin users do notice signs of infection, for example marked redness and swelling around an injection site or other signs of serious infection such as a high fever, they should seek urgent medical advice.”
Despite the danger for heroin users, Health Protection Scotland insisted the risk to the general public is low.
They said it is extremely rare for anthrax to be passed from person to person and there is no evidence of a significant risk of airborne transmission associated with the current situation.
Drug users with concerns can call Access Line (Angus) 08452 777778; Addaction (Dundee) 01382 206888; Drug and Alcohol Team (Perth and Kinross) 01738 474455. |
