Bongo-maker's flat sealed off after he dies from anthrax caught from African drum skins[UK]

Daily Mail ^ | 03 Nov 2008 | Julie Moult

[BGHater]

A drum-maker who contracted a rare form of anthrax while handling animal skins died in hospital yesterday.

Fernando Gomez, 35, died after spending a week in the intensive care unit of Homerton University Hospital.

Mr Gomez, a father of four from Hackney in East London, is thought to have inhaled anthrax spores while handling imported animal skins at his workshop.

The Health Protection Agency today sealed off his flat to check for contamination and will examine his nearby workshop later this week.

Seven other people, who may have come into contact with the animal skins, have been given antibiotics as a precautionary measure.

The illness is so rare that medicines were flown to Britain for him from the U.S.

Mr Gomez, from Madrid, had been in Britain for several years and had built a reputation as a talented percussionist, playing in a group called Alasvals who describe themselves as a Spanish 'folktronic' band.

He also ran a business making bongo drums at a workshop near his home for which he imports hides from Africa.

Fernando Gomez: Died after inhaling anthrax spores

[wideminded]

There was another case like this in the news 2 or 3 years ago, also a drum maker importing animal skins.

[Prunetacos]

Remember when

Sun tabloid photo editor Robert Stevens, 63, died Friday of inhaled anthrax, a rare and particularly lethal form of the disease. Co-worker Ernesto Blanco, 73, has been in a Miami hospital since Monday after anthrax spores were found in his nose. He was in good condition and has not been diagnosed with the disease.

Health investigators shut down the American Media building after finding traces of anthrax on the computer keyboard used by Stevens. Pesquera said the latest victim worked in the general area of the other victims.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Now if that don't beat all...

[Constitution Day]

Hoist by his own percussion...

[snarks_when_bored]

As a general rule, African imports ought to be monitored very, very carefully...

[nw_arizona_granny]

Ping.

[Infidel Puppy]

1) Oh dear gawd no, now we're short a bongo player. Oh the humanity.
2) African imports: Ebola, Obama, now Anthrax. Is anyone noticing a pattern here?
3) What exactly are the government department or departments that are charged with ensuring import safety actually *doing* these days? Canvassing for Obama?

[Calpernia]

This is a new incident? There was a guy that died of anthrax here in NYC from bongo skins a few years ago.

[Calpernia]

Especially presidential candidates.

::rimshot::

[Calpernia]

Naturally occuring anthrax with some strange twists.

[snarks_when_bored]

Golly, that never even occurred to me! Really. I mean it. I'm not kidding.

 

(heh)

[HighlyOpinionated]

As a general rule, African imports ought to be monitored very, very carefully...

Including Half-African All Marxist Imported Politicians.

[Harold Shea]

Maynard G Krebs

A bongo maker probably do better with some Chinese skins