NIPH therefore clinicians and people with care functions for abusing groups to be aware of the risk of anthrax among intravenous drug users with “Escher”, deep abscesses or signs of systemic disease.

In addition, remind the authorities that it is always important to inform injecting drug users on how they can best reduce the risk of anthrax and other infections.

Anthrax Outbreak in Scotland
The reason for that of Public Health has issued anmodingen, is that they have received notification of an outbreak of anthrax (anthrax) among intravenous drug users in Scotland.

Scottish health authorities state that so far diagnosed 14 cases of anthrax among intravenous heroin users of which seven are dead.

Contaminated heroin?
The first case was diagnosed in Glasgow in mid-December, but it is now reported cases from elsewhere in Scotland.

All those infected are heroin addicts, and it is assumed that the bacteria are transmitted through injection of contaminated heroin or other drugs such as heroin mixed with. It examined now about pollution have taken place locally in connection with the production of heroin.

One died in Oslo in 2000.

To other countries?
The first documented case of anthrax in an injecting addict was report in Oslo in 2000, when a heroin addict died of systemic anthrax after being injected assumed contaminated drug intramuscularly.

There are currently no reports of cases among drug users outside of Scotland, but one can not exclude the possibility that contaminated heroin may also have been distributed to other countries.