Outbreak of wound botulism in people who inject drugs, Norway, October to November 2013.
In October and November 2013, four cases of wound botulism were confirmed in people who inject drugs (PWID) in Norway. Two additional cases are suspected. Because of the international distribution pathways for heroin – the likely source of the outbreak – healthcare workers and public health authorities in other countries should remain vigilant for wound botulism in PWID. This outbreak serves as a reminder that countries should ensure access to botulinum antitoxin in case of outbreak situations.
Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
E
E
MacDonald
T M
TM
Arnesen
A B
AB
Brantsaeter
P
P
Gerlyng
M
M
Grepp
B Å
BÅ
Hansen
K
K
Jonsrud
B
B
Lundgren
H
H
Mellegård
J
J
Møller-Stray
K
K
Rønning
D F
DF
Vestrheim
L
L
Vold
D000328:Adult; D001904:Botulinum Antitoxin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001906:Botulism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D003014:Clostridium botulinum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018563:Disease Notification; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology
D001904:Botulinum Antitoxin; D007155:Immunologic Factors