An outbreak of infection with Bacillus anthracis in injecting drug users in Scotland

C N Ramsay; A Stirling; J Smith; G Hawkins; T Brooks; J Hood; G Penrice; L M Browning; S Ahmed; Collective on behalf of the NHS GGC; Collective on behalf of the Scottish National Outbreak Control Teams

doi:10.2807/ese.15.02.19465-en

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An outbreak of infection with Bacillus anthracis in injecting drug users in Scotland
C N Ramsay¹ , A Stirling² , J Smith² , G Hawkins¹ , T Brooks³ , J Hood⁴ , G Penrice² , L M Browning¹ , S Ahmed² , Collective on behalf of the NHS GGC² , Collective on behalf of the Scottish National Outbreak Control Teams¹
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Affiliations: ¹ Health Protection Scotland, Glasgow, United Kingdom ² National Health Service Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom ³ Special Pathogens Reference Unit (SPRU) Health Protection Agency, Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response, Porton Down, Salisbury, United Kingdom ⁴ Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, United Kingdom

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C Ramsay
colin.ramsay nhs.net
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Citation style for this article: Ramsay C N, Stirling A, Smith J, Hawkins G, Brooks T, Hood J, Penrice G, Browning L M, Ahmed S, on behalf of the NHS GGC Collective, on behalf of the Scottish National Outbreak Control Teams Collective. An outbreak of infection with Bacillus anthracis in injecting drug users in Scotland. Euro Surveill. 2010;15(2):pii=19465. https://doi.org/10.2807/ese.15.02.19465-en Received: 12 Jan 2010

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Abstract

An investigation is currently underway to explore and control an outbreak of Bacillus anthracis among drug users (mainly injecting) in Scotland. Contaminated heroin or a contaminated cutting agent mixed with the heroin is considered to be the most likely source and vehicle of infection. Heroin users have been advised of the risk. The risk to the general public is regarded as very low.