BIO-TERROR HEROIN ALERT; Sheriff's fears after probe on deaths of 18 addicts.

Byline: ANDREW WALKER 

TERRORISTS could use poisoned heroin to wage biological war on Britain, a sheriff warned yesterday.

The grim prediction came as a report into the deaths of 18 heroin addicts in Scotland last year was published.

They were struck down by a flesh-eating bug from a poisoned consignment of double- strength heroin from Afghanistan.

Sheriff Principal Edward Bowen QC forecast that a similar contaminated batch could find its way to Scotland again.

But he said it might be brought here deliberately, causing a fresh outbreak which could kill scores of addicts and bring the health service to its knees.

He warned the authorities the menace should be treated as seriously as any threat to the national security of the United Kingdom.

His comments were made in a written determination into the deaths of injecting addicts between April and August last year in Glasgow.

The report follows a four-week fatal accident inquiry in October which examined the origins of the deadly flesh- eating disease necrotising fasciitis.

It struck five others victims in Scotland and a number of drug users in England and Ireland.

Sheriff Principal Bowen wrote: "This outbreak could easily happen again and on a significantly larger scale. Lurking in the background is the threat of bio-terrorism."

He added: "Each of these deaths represents a wasted life, a tragedy for all who died and those close to them.

"But they represent only one episode in a very large tragedy which deserves to be addressed with as much vigour and commitment as any external threat to our national security and well-being."

He said there was "much force" in the claim the authorities had taken for granted Scotland's drugs culture.

But he praised the authorities for their handling of the outbreak.

In only three cases - Catherine Rozanski, 26, Joseph Dean, 44, and David Cameron - earlier treatment may have helped.

Two died from another form of infection which might have responded to medication, according to the report. The sheriff said the skill and attention given to the victims could not be criticised, "with one possible exception, the case of David Cameron".

It was possible, "although unlikely", the 34-year-old's death may have been avoided with faster intervention, he said.

At first, the outbreak - caused by clostridium noyvi bacteria - left doctors baffled. Andrea McQuilter was the first to die on April 26.

It was only when two other addicts, Deborah McElvanney, 27, and Morag Conlon, 24, fell victim within the following three days that the authorities realised what they were facing. A worldwide probe by police and health experts swung into operation.

But in the following months, 15 more addicts died agonising deaths.

Police traced the source of the infection to opium from Afghanistan.

A street deal obtained by the Daily Record was sent to America for analysis and helped police track the supply route.

Police investigated the possibility that contamination had been deliberate, but this was ruled out.

It was concluded that the bacteria entered the heroin during the filthy production process.

Last night, Detective Superintendent Stephen Heath, who led the Operation Whiteboard inquiry, said the sheriff's comments on the potential terror threat were "interesting".

He added: "This aspect goes to a higher level of enforcement than the level I am at, but I would stress this was contamination which happened in a source country."

He said the investigation was a signal of the force's intention to put dealers at all levels out of business.

Dr Syed Ahmed, a public health consultant in Glasgow, agreed that a fresh outbreak could easily occur.

He said: "If you look at the way the drug is prepared, it is surprising that we don't have many more of these outbreaks."

Catriona Renfrew, director of planning and community care with Greater Glasgow NHS Board, said lessons had been learned.

She said: "Information and training will be passed down to frontline staff, which did not happen in 100 per cent of the cases here."

Sheriff Principal Bowen said more should be done to highlight the risks of injecting heroin into muscle, a practice known as "muscle popping".

He said drug misuse was happening on a massive scale with around 15,000 addicts in Glasgow.

He added: "The scale of such conduct should not mask the unacceptability of it."

THE MAIN POINTS:

Contaminated heroin conclusively came from Afghanistan.

Wider publicity should be given to the dangers of contracting a deadly infection through injecting heroin.

A major shake-up of the way medics get written information relating to any form of infection or communicable disease.

Staffing levels of laboratories should be maintained to be able to cope with future outbreaks and health boards should review how drug users are managed in accident and emergency hospitals and acute wards.

The evidence should leave no one in any doubt that the same thing could happen again.