Well founded fears that contaminated heroin may be back on the streets demands an urgent Government response, according to Labour TD, Ms Mary Upton.
"It is vital that all the experience wegained last year is now deployed so that no other person loses their life from contaminated heroin," said Ms Upton.
The National Disease Surveillance Centre revealed earlier today that contaminated batches of heroin which may be circulating in Ireland could be similar to the batches which killed eight drug users in Dublin last summer.
Over 30 intravenous heroin users died in the outbreak in Britain and Ireland from an infection caused by abacterium called 'Clostridium'. This infection in the muscle tissue releases toxins into the bloodstream causing serious illness often leading to rapid death.
The Centre today warned heroin addicts to be careful following fresh reports of heroin contamination in Britain.
The NDSC has advised users to seek immediate medical attention if they develop unusual symptoms such as skin ulcers, swelling, redness and pain at the injection source.
They said that all local health boards and Accident and Emergency departments had been informed of the situation.