FLESH-EATING BACTERIA MAY BE TIED TO BAD HEROIN

HAYWARD -- Five Alameda County residents have been killed since April by an
outbreak of flesh-eating bacteria, which authorities theorize came from
tainted batches of black tar heroin.

The most recent victims all used injection drugs, but cultures from the
five dead and the five others infected with the bacteria show at least two
different strains of bacteria.

Eight of the infected are from Oakland, one is from Hayward, and the other
is homeless. Their ages range from 26 to 99, and nine are men. Two are
still hospitalized at Highland Hospital in Oakland.

"I believe all the cases have been traced to black tar heroin," said
Highland spokeswoman Jennie Alexich.

Berkeley's AIDS program director Leroy Blea said needle exchange programs
in Berkeley and Oakland are warning clients about the outbreak, even though
drugs aren't the confirmed source.

Otherwise known as necrotizing fasciitis, the disease is a much stronger
strain of the same bacteria that causes strep throat.

Compiled by Kaye Ross, Mercury News, from staff and wire reports.