AUTHORITIES MYSTIFIED BY HEROIN FATALITIES

The unidentified severe illness which led to the death and hospitalisation
of a number of Dublin heroin addicts remained a mystery yesterday, as
scores of frightened drug users contacted Health Board clinics for treatment.

The Eastern Regional Health Authority said 70 drug users, previously
unknown to the service, have now came forward to be assessed for treatment
but many others remain at risk.

It is estimated that up to 9,000 addicts may not be receiving treatment and
they are a high priority for health authority outreach workers, who are
trying to warn them about the threat.

Dr Kristy Murray, an expert in drug investigation from the Centres for
Disease Control in Atlanta in the US, visited a number of hospitals
yesterday and carried out tests in an effort to uncover the source of the
illness, which has been blamed on contaminated heroin.

To date seven Irish heroin addicts have died with similar symptoms of
abscess or swelling, particularly near the injection site. Another seven
have been hospitalised. It is likely that more addicts' deaths will be
linked to the illness but these are likely to have happened in recent weeks.

The three area health boards in the Eastern region appealed to heroin users
to stop using the drug and to call to a clinic for assessment for treatment.

A freephone helpline, 1800-459-459 has been organised which people can call
for advice.

The health authorities are working closely with their counterparts in
Scotland where 12 people have died in an effort to establish the common
factors and the cause of the illness.

``Heroin users are advised that they should seek immediate medical help if
they discover any significant abscess or swelling, particularly near an
injection site if they experience any unusual symptom or illness,'' said a
spokesperson.