Botulism in injecting drug users, Dublin, Ireland, November-December 2008

J Barry; M Ward; S Cotter; J MacDiarmada; M Hannan; B Sweeney; K A Grant; P McKeown

doi:10.2807/ese.14.01.19082-en

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Botulism in injecting drug users, Dublin, Ireland, November-December 2008
J Barry^1,2 , M Ward¹ , S Cotter³ , J MacDiarmada¹ , M Hannan⁴ , B Sweeney^4,5 , K A Grant⁶ , P McKeown³
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Affiliations: ¹ Department of Public Health, Health Services Executive, Dublin, Ireland ² Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland ³ Health Protection Surveillance Centre, Dublin, Ireland ⁴ Mater Misericordiae University, Hospital, Dublin, Ireland ⁵ Addiction Service, Health Services Executive, Dublin, Ireland ⁶ Foodborne Pathogen Reference Unit, Centre for Infections, London, United Kingdom

Correspondence:
M Ward
mary.wardbarrett hse.ie
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Citation style for this article: Barry J, Ward M, Cotter S, MacDiarmada J, Hannan M, Sweeney B, Grant K A, McKeown P. Botulism in injecting drug users, Dublin, Ireland, November-December 2008. Euro Surveill. 2009;14(1):pii=19082. https://doi.org/10.2807/ese.14.01.19082-en Received: 23 Dec 2008

Abstract

In November and December 2008, six cases of suspect wound botulism were reported in heroin injecting drug users, all residents in Dublin, Ireland. Patients were aged between 23-42 years of age; four cases were male; one patient died shortly after admission. The patients presented to four different hospitals across the city. Botulism in injecting drug users in Ireland was last reported in 2002.