Medical experts still seek cause of heroin deaths

Medical specialists in Ireland, the US and Britain have yet to discover what caused the deaths of at least 20 heroin-users in Dublin and Glasgow. Samples of the drug have been recovered and are being analysed for any sign of contamination.

A total of 14 heroin addicts in Dublin have fallen ill since the mystery illness was first identified about 10 days ago, according to Dr Joe Barry, a public health specialist with the Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA). Seven of these have died, but no new cases have been reported for several days.

Almost 30 cases have been discovered in Glasgow, and there have been more than a dozen deaths there. Authorities in the two cities are in regular contact to share information, he said.

"We link on a daily basis, and the clinicians who are dealing with patients in both jurisdictions are happy they are dealing with the same thing," he said.

The ERHA had put considerable resources into the identification of any addicts who exhibited the symptoms linked to the outbreak, assumed to be caused by contaminated heroin.

The main symptoms are a sudden, localised infection which appears near the site of heroin injection, often causing abscesses, he said. "It is a severe infection. They get what is known as systemic collapse."

ERHA personnel were currently trawling through coroner's records "looking at those deaths that have occurred among drug users", Dr Barry said.

Staff at Dublin's 50 drug treatment centres had been alerted to watch for addicts with the symptoms and the authority had also established contacts with all the main hospitals.

Dr Barry strongly urged any drug addict who reacted badly to injected drugs to seek immediate help.

The ERHA has set up a freephone helpline at 1 800 459 459 for drug-users concerned about their symptoms.