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| Man who breathed in anthrax dies | Man who breathed in anthrax dies |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A drum-maker who inhaled anthrax spores while handling imported animal skins at his workshop has died in hospital. | A drum-maker who inhaled anthrax spores while handling imported animal skins at his workshop has died in hospital. |
| The man, from Hackney in east London, was being treated in the intensive care unit of Homerton University Hospital. | The man, from Hackney in east London, was being treated in the intensive care unit of Homerton University Hospital. |
| Seven other people, who may have come into contact with the animal skins, have been given antibiotics as a precautionary measure. | Seven other people, who may have come into contact with the animal skins, have been given antibiotics as a precautionary measure. |
| The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said it is attempting to trace where the infected skins originated. | The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said it is attempting to trace where the infected skins originated. |
| The man had been in hospital since he was taken ill last week. | |
| A hospital spokesman said his condition had deteriorated overnight and that he died on Sunday afternoon. | |
| Flat sealed off | |
| The HPA has sealed off his flat in Hackney and will examine his workshop this week. | |
| Its chief adviser, Professor Nigel Lightfoot, said residents who live near the flat or workshop are not at risk. | |
| He stressed the risk for coming into contact with anthrax comes from the making of animal skin drums not playing or handling them. | |
| He said: "We are, however, keen to reiterate to all individuals who make drums from imported animal skins that there is a risk of coming into contact with anthrax and that they should ensure they are aware of this and take precautions to protect themselves when making these drums." | |
| Jules Pipe, the mayor of Hackney, said: "This is an extremely rare case and this type of anthrax cannot be passed from person to person." | |
| The last death of this kind in Britain was in 2006 when Christopher Norris, 50, a craftsman from Stobs, near Hawick in Scotland, died after inhaling anthrax. | |
| Mr Norris made artworks and musical instruments, including drums. | |
| A report from NHS Borders published in December last year said it was likely Mr Norris contracted the illness after playing or handling anthrax-contaminated | |
| A fatal accident inquiry into his death is due to take place on 18 November at Edinburgh Sheriff Court. |