• home
• public relations
• media training
• website design
• news
• contact

16/08/06 - FATAL CASE OF ANTHRAX

A 50 year old man, who lived in the Scottish Borders, and who died in early July 2006, was identified on 11 August as probably having suffered from anthrax.  He had become ill in early July and after a very short illness, died in the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh on 8 July.  Complex and time-consuming tests at specialist laboratories in England were required to identify and confirm anthrax as the organism most likely to be the cause of his septicaemia.  As soon as the diagnosis was known, NHS Borders set up an Incident Control Team (ICT).

Rare disease

Anthrax is a very rare disease and generally presents as a skin infection. The man worked with materials such as untreated animal hides.  Working with animal hides is known to be a risk factor for acquiring Anthrax. He may therefore have acquired this infection accidentally as a result of inhaling spores during the course of work at his home and not from any other source. 

The man’s home has been sealed off and is being investigated to see if there is any risk of anthrax spores in the environment.  All appropriate precautions are being taken to deal with the house and its contents.  NHS Borders is tracing the man’s relatives and other individuals known to have had access to the building.  They are being assessed for risk of infection, with appropriate action being taken for each individual as required.

Not passed from person to person

Anthrax is a difficult disease to contract and is not passed from person to person. The risk to individuals who had contact with the deceased during his illness, either locally at Borders General Hospital, or the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh where he was treated, is negligible. There is no reason to think that the members of the general public are at any risk.

As a precautionary measure however, anyone who visited his home address Black Lodge, Stobs, Hawick after 17 July 2006 and who has not been in contact with NHS Borders, should contact the  NHS Borders helpline on 08000 282816 for further information.

Anyone who visited the house before 17 July 2006 is not at any significant risk. However, if  they experience ‘flu like symptoms, dry cough, or unusual skin lesions for up to two months after their visit, they should seek further medical advice as a matter of precaution.

The last case of laboratory confirmed Anthrax in Scotland was in 1987.

telephone 0800 032 1127 |
email info@axismediagroup.co.uk
Registered in England and Wales | 4375076
website designed by stream media | sitemap