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Seven people in San Diego have pall in late month from a " flesh eating " contagion link up to use of black tarheroin , according to wellness official .

On Wednesday ( Dec. 4 ) , the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency announced that nine citizenry in the area had been hospitalized with a serious infection called myonecrosis over a two - calendar month period ( from Oct. 2 to Nov. 24 ) . Of these , seven pass away . The patients cast in years from 19 to 57 year , and all had used black tar heroin , harmonise toa statement from the agency .

In Brief

An illustration of Clostridium perfringens bacteria. This bacterium is one cause of myonecrosis, a “flesh-eating” infection that destroys muscle tissue.

Myonecrosis is a rare bacterial transmission that destroys muscle tissue , the statement said . Often , it is make by a eccentric of bacteria calledClostridium , which release a toxin that causes tissue death , harmonize toHealthline . These bacterium also release a flatulence , and the condition is sometimes referred to as " gas gangrene . "

People who interpose unlawful drugs , especially smutty tar heroin , are at higher risk of developing myonecrosis , the statement said .

The circumstance can unfold quickly in the organic structure , and conduct to amputation or death , according to the assertion . symptom often include spartan pain around a wound or injection internet site , swelling , blisters with foul - smell discharge and cutis that turns grey , moody red , purple or black .

An illustration of Clostridium perfringens bacteria. This bacterium is one cause of myonecrosis, a "flesh-eating" infection that destroys muscle tissue.

An illustration of Clostridium perfringens bacteria. This bacterium is one cause of myonecrosis, a “flesh-eating” infection that destroys muscle tissue.

A different infection calledwound botulism , which aggress the soundbox ’s nerves , is also relate with black tar heroin use . In October , there was also one case of wound botulism reported in San Diego , which was the first report case in the orbit in 2019 , the instruction said .

The sources of sinister seaman diacetylmorphine in both the myonecrosis and wound botulism case are unknown , the statement said . An investigation in on-going , and extra cases may be reported .

Originally publish onLive Science .

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