British woman dies of anthrax

Health Protection Agency (HPA) confirms death London - Arabstoday A drug user from Suffolk has died after being infected with anthrax, health experts have said. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) confirmed that a woman who injected heroin died at the James Paget University Hospital, in Gorleston, Norfolk, last weekend. There has been a previously small outbreak of cases in Europe, with 13 identified by health officials since June last year, including seven in the UK. The HPA said the source of the infection was presumed to be contaminated heroin. The HPA said it was "unclear" whether the British cases were linked to the European outbreak which has affected drug users in Denmark, Germany and France. Anthrax is a bacterial infection and is primarily a disease of herbivorous mammals, though other animals and some birds can also become infected. Drug users can be exposed when heroin is contaminated with anthrax spores. Dr Chris Williams, consultant in communicable disease control at the HPA in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, said: "Anthrax can be cured with antibiotics, if treatment is started early. "It is therefore important for medical professionals to be alert to the possibility of anthrax infection in heroin users presenting with signs and symptoms - which include severe soft tissue infections or blood poisoning - to prevent any delays in providing treatment.” "It is possible that further cases may be seen in people who inject heroin” "People who use drugs may become infected with anthrax when the heroin they use is contaminated with anthrax spores. This could be a source of infection if injected, smoked or snorted - there is no safe route for consuming heroin or other drugs that may be contaminated with anthrax spores," he added.