The Department of Health has alerted doctors and its drug-treatment facilities about the anthrax outbreak affecting heroin users in Europe.

As of April 29, a total of 36 laboratory-confirmed cases, including 12 deaths, have been recorded in Scotland, with some cases also reported in England and Germany.

According to Health Protection Scotland, the patients were likely to have contracted anthrax from taking heroin contaminated with anthrax spores. Further investigations are underway to trace the supply network and validate the hypothesis.

There has been no evidence of person-to-person transmission or increased risk to the families, friends or other associates of the patients or the public.

Anthrax is a statutory notifiable disease in Hong Kong. The Department of Health advises people not to take heroin, not just because of the risks of the drug itself, but also because of the risk of getting infectious diseases such as anthrax, HIV, AIDS, hepatitis, tetanus, sepsis and abscesses.

The department has alerted doctors, especially those working in methadone clinics, of the overseas situation. Health education in methadone clinics has also been enhanced.

The department will step up publicity on the risk of heroin at services for abusers such as methadone clinics, drug treatment and rehabilitation centres, and substance abuse clinics.

No human case of anthrax has been detected in Hong Kong since 2003.