ANTHRAX FEAR IN DEATH OF ADDICTS

ANTHRAX could be responsible for the spate of deaths among heroin
addicts in Glasgow.

Scientists at the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research at
Porton Down, Wiltshire, found signs of the infection after testing the
blood of two Scottish patients, according to a report in today's New
Scientist magazine.

Public health experts in Glasgow last night confirmed they were
considering anthrax as part of their investigations after 10 heroin
addicts died and 15 were left seriously ill.

The New Scientist report revealed that anthrax bacilli was found in
the spinal fluid of a Norwegian addict who died in April after
injecting heroin into muscle.

It was feared there could be a link with the Scottish victims who also
injected the drug into muscle rather than veins.

Two of the seven Scottish samples sent for analysis tested positive
for "protective antigen", the main anthrax toxin.

An anthrax expert from the University of Michigan told the magazine
that nothing else could have given that result.

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police last night said the force had not
ruled out the possibility that the heroin was deliberately
contaminated.

A special unit was set up last week in a bid to trace the source of
the contamination and police said its work was continuing. Dr Laurence
Gruer, a consultant in public health medicine with Greater Glasgow
Health Board, insisted that anthrax was not the prime suspect but
admitted it could not be ruled out.

"We do not have totally convincing evidence of anthrax and it looks
very unlikely," he said.

"We sent blood samples from seven patients to the CAMR to look for
exposure to anthrax. Two of the samples gave a very weak positive
reaction and in the absence of any other positive results for anthrax,
the CAMR scientists conclude that these results are very unlikely to
be due to the anthrax infection.

"We have been testing for any microbiological or toxic substances in
the heroin and citric acid recovered by the police from various
sources. All the test results so far have been negative for traces of
anthrax or any significant toxin."

A further five samples were sent for analysis yesterday, including
another from one patient who had already tested positive.

Dr David Goldberg, deputy director of the Scottish Centre for
Infectious Diseases at Ruchill Hospital, said anthrax could not be
ruled out, particularly after the confirmed death of a drug user in
Norway from the infection.

"The death is confirmation that injecting drug users could become
infected with anthrax and could die as a result," he said.

"If heroin in Norway can become contaminated then that suggests heroin
anywhere could be infected."

A spokesman at CAMR said the results did not demonstrate a conclusive
positive result. "We are continuing to perform tests on a range of
samples and cannot confirm the findings either way."

Anthrax, a naturally occurring bacterium found in animals which is
highly lethal to humans, is endemic in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and
Iran, where most of Europe's heroin originates.

Eight women and two men have died in Glasgow from the illness which
began just over two weeks ago. Initially it was thought the illness
may have been connected to citric acid used by addicts to dissolve
heroin before it is injected.

Meanwhile, organisations affected by Glasgow City Council's suspension
of funding to gay and lesbian groups have formed the West of Scotland
Alliance. The suspension awaits a full court hearing on a legal action
brought by a nurse who claims her council tax is being spent
unlawfully on promoting homosexuality.

The membership includes organisations working with the gay and lesbian
community and people living with HIV and Aids.