In Norway (31 Jan-02Fev ) has over the weekend been informed on two additional suspected cases of clinical wound botulism in persons who inject drugs

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health has over the weekend been informed on two additional suspected cases of clinical wound botulism in persons who inject drugs . 

 
In total, six cases have been notified in Norway since December 2014. 

Four of them are now laboratory confirmed.

 

Protection Scotland is continuing to support a number of local NHS Boards and Police Scotland to investigate a cluster of wound botulism among People Who Inject Drugs. 

 

As at 28th January twelve people have been admitted to hospitals between 21st December 2014 and 26th January 2015 (six since 20th January 2015), with a severe illness where wound botulism has been suspected. 

All cases injected heroin. 

 

Three have been confirmed as having botulism, six are probable (clinical diagnosis of wound botulism without laboratory confirmation) cases of botulism and one is a possible case under investigation. 

 

Two of the 12 suspected illnesses were subsequently found to be due to other causes. 

 

Toxin typing results are known for two of the confirmed cases and has been identified as toxin type B. 

 

All the confirmed and probable cases either obtained their drugs in, or their drugs were sourced via, Glasgow.