Authority studies new heroin death

The Eastern Regional Health Authority is investigating a further death of a heroin-user in Dublin.

It is seeking to establish whether the young woman, who died in a Dublin hospital yesterday, died for the same reasons as other heroin-users whose deaths are being put down to "unknown causes".

There have been seven such deaths since May 1st, in Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow. A further seven heroin-users have suffered severe illness from the same cause, believed to be some form of contamination.

Meanwhile, the Garda confirmed it was now investigating a total of 14 deaths of heroin-users in the past six weeks. These include the seven under investigation by the ERHA and others who died of overdoses.

A spokeswoman for the ERHA would not identify the hospital in which the latest victim died. Meanwhile, Dr Bridin Brady at the State Laboratory in Dublin said forensic examination of blood and urine samples from the dead heroin-users would begin in earnest before the beginning of next week.

"We are waiting for the last samples from Beaumont Hospital," she said. Each sample she said would be checked and screened several times and that the process could take "a couple of weeks". Samples will be checked for drugs and other substances.

Of the 14 cases that have met the case definition to date, seven have died, four are still receiving treatment and three have been discharged from hospital.

All the victims shared the feature of having very severe inflammation at the point of injection. The Department is continuing its investigations in collaboration with Scottish authorities and the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta. Dr Kristey Murray arrived from Atlanta on Saturday and is liaising with Dr Jai Lingata, who has travelled from Atlanta to help the Health Board in Glasgow with its investigations.

An ERHA freephone helpline for drug-users concerned about their symptoms has been set up at 1800 459 459.