MYSTERY DRUG ILLNESS SPREADS TO ENGLAND

A MYSTERIOUS illness which is killing heroin addicts in Glasgow has spread
to England and Wales, it was revealed yesterday.

The condition affects addicts who inject into the muscle or under the skin.

They are left with abscesses and suffer a septicaemia-type illness. Some
have died from organ failure within hours.

There have been 31 known cases of the condition in Glasgow. Last night, it
was revealed the death toll has rising to 14 in the city.

Now the Public Health Laboratory Service have revealed that 14 cases have
been found in England and Wales, seven of whom have died.

Dr Noel Gill, of the PHLS, said: "This gives cause for concern and what has
been happening in Glasgow is unusual."

US experts are now helping Scots doctors to try to track down the cause of
the deaths.

Dr Laurence Gruer, of the Greater Glasgow Health Board, said: "We are
optimistic we will pin-point the cause of this condition."