SCIENTISTS IDENTIFY KILLER JUNKIE VIRUS

SCIENTISTS have identified the toxin in a rogue batch of heroin which
has killed 32 junkies.

The Clostridium virus is thought to have come from dirt used to cut
the drug by dealers to reduce its potency and make it go further.

A total of 16 addicts have died in Glasgow from a batch of the
infected heroin, sparking a nationwide probe.

Different strains of the virus can cause gangrene, tetanus and
botulism

The victims had injected heroin straight into a muscle because they
could not find a vein.

Infected heroin injected into a vein would have been dispersed in the
bloodstream.

Instead Clostridium lay like a lump at the point of injection then
spread through the body reducing oxygen levels and crushing tissues.

Gangrene quickly followed with collapse of the heart, kidneys and
liver.

A press conference has been called by Greater Glasgow Health Board
today to announce the findings of their specialists but it is
understood Clostridium will be blamed.

Patients can be saved if they get prompt treatment to isolate and kill
the virus.

Three men were arrested in Wolverhampton earlier this week in
connection with the death of Glaswegian Derek Anderson, who is
believed to have died from the infection in the city on Saturday.

Two were arrested on suspicion of murder, but released without charge
and a third was charged in connection with the supply of drugs.

Mr Anderson was the third person to die in Wolverhampton last
week.

Police revealed his symptoms were identical to others who had died
from the infected batch in the north of England, Scotland and Ireland.

Specimens from the most recent Glasgow deaths have been tested at
laboratories in Britain and at the Centre for Disease Control and
Prevention in Atlanta, USA.

These include tissue samples from the victims and heroin from the
infected batch passed on by the Daily Record to the police.

It is understood the Clostridium virus was identified by a lab in
Wales.