ANTHRAX LINK TO KILLER HEROIN

The Lethal Germ Warfare Weapon Anthrax May Have Killed 10 Scots Heroin Addicts.

Tests at Britain's biological defence lab at Porton Down have found signs
of anthrax infection in two of the victims.

It's thought heroin from the Middle East may have been contaminated with
the deadly bacteria.

It raises fears the disease could spread like wildfire among intravenous
heroin users across the country.

And dozens more could have been poisoned in the last two years, because
heroin deaths are so commonplace they are seldom investigated.

The alarm was raised after a spate of mysterious deaths among addicts -
nine in Glasgow and another in Aberdeen. Nine others were treated in
hospital. All had similar symptoms including festering abscesses and fever.

At least one victim, who is still alive, has the black scab typical of
localised anthrax infection.

Initial tests on the heroin were understood to show it was contaminated
with bacteria.

Last night, Greater Glasgow Health Board confirmed they were testing for
anthrax after being told of a drug-injecting addict from Norway who died of
multi-organ failure - the same as the Scots deaths.

But they said tests on blood and tissue samples from the dead addicts "have
proved entirely negative for anthrax infection".

The Porton Down scientists said two of the victims' blood samples tested
positive for main anthrax toxin, Protective Antigen.

The board said it was a weak reaction and added: "They conclude these
results are very unlikely to be due to anthrax infection."

But bacteriology experts are less certain.

Phil Hanna, of Michigan University, said the symptoms were typical of
anthrax, and added: "Nothing else would give that result."

All the addicts who died had injected into the muscle rather than the vein
and Dr Hanna said this was consistent with anthrax infection, because the
bacteria breeds more effectively in the muscle.

Anthrax is endemic in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran where most of Europe's
heroin originates.

Martin Hugh-Jones, of Louisiana State University, who investigated a 1979
outbreak in Russia, said animal-derived material from the region could be
contaminated with spores of anthrax and may have found its way into heroin.

As investigations continue, addicts have been advised to smoke heroin
rather than inject it.

During World War II, secret tests involving anthrax bombs were carried out
on Gruinard off the north-west coast. It left the island uninhabitable for
48 years.