Anthrax contaminated heroin spreads in U.K.

British authorities today warned drug users that heroin in London was highly likely to be contaminated with anthrax, after a first confirmed case there and following nine deaths in Scotland. "While public health investigations are ongoing, it must be assumed that all heroin in London carries the risk of anthrax contamination," said Dr. Brian McCloskey, who is director of the Health Protection Agency (HPA) in London.

"Heroin users are advised to cease taking heroin by any route, if at all possible, and to seek help from their local drug treatment services."McCloskey added that the risk to the general population was "negligible."Anthrax has been found in 19 heroin users in Scotland since December and nine of those people died, six of them in the Glasgow area, officials said. The first case in London was confirmed yesterday, and the user was in hospital receiving treatment.

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Statewide Anthrax Scare in Alabama

The Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating a statewide anthrax scare in Alabama. Local lawmakers are among the targets.

Eight letters with white powder were sent to five locations:
- Congressman Mike Rogers office at the federal courthouse in Anniston
- Senator Richard Shelby's office at a federal building in Birmingham
- Rogers', Shelby's and Senator Jeff Sessions' offices at the state capitol building in Montgomery.
- Congressman Jo Bonner's offices in Mobile and Foley

The 15th floor of the RSA Tower in downtown Mobile, where one of Bonner's offices is located, was evacuated as a precaution. So was Bonner's office in Foley. It's located in a shopping center on McKenzie Street. More than a dozen businesses in that shopping center, including the News 5 bureau, were also evacuated.

The FBI says all eight letters made reference to anthrax. But so far, all tests have come back negative. The FBI says more letters could be out there.

• CDC. Emergency Preparedness Response: Anthrax
  

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