A British drum-maker who inhaled anthrax spores while handling imported animal skins died today in hospital.
The man, from Hackney in east London, was in the intensive care unit of the Homerton University Hospital, London.
A hospital spokesman said the man's condition deteriorated overnight and he died at 1pm today.
He had been in hospital since he was taken ill last week.
His flat in Hackney was sealed off by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) for examination and his workshop, which is also in the borough, will be checked this week.
Seven other people who had been in the room where the skins were prepared were given antibiotics as a precautionary measure and the HPA said nobody else had developed any symptoms.
Professor Nigel Lightfoot, the HPA's chief adviser, said residents who live near the flat or workshop are not at risk.
‘It is important to stress that it is the making of animal skin drums that is the risk for coming into contact with anthrax rather than playing or handling drums,’ he said.
