LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Los Angeles County health officials have issued a warning about black-tar heroin that may be contaminated with a deadly bacteria.
County officials are investigating three suspected cases of wound botulism, which can be fatal, associated with heroin use.
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Sharing needles is also one way the bacteria can spread.
Cooking or heating the heroin will not kill the bacteria, officials say.
Symptoms of wound botulism can be similar to a drug overdose, including blurred vision, difficulty speaking, swallowing or breathing. Symptoms can appear within days or even weeks of injecting the contaminated drug.
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San Diego County has also had a recent outbreak of heroin-associated botulism cases.
More information is available from LA County here.