BUFFALO, N.Y. — A deadly batch of heroin is suspected in the deaths of seven people in 24 hours in western New York.

Health and elected officials called an emergency news conference in Buffalo Thursday to warn of the drug.

Authorities say it’s suspected in the deaths of six men and one woman county-wide.

County Executive Mark Poloncarz says the county has been seeing an average of seven overdose deaths a week.

The county of more than 900,000 people saw more than 300 opioid and heroin deaths in 2016.