Anthrax hits new victim

A postal worker in New Jersey has been confirmed as the eighth victim suffering from the more dangerous inhaled version of anthrax as the outbreak continues into its third week.

The 56-year-old woman works at a sorting office in Hamilton, not far from Trenton where letters contaminated with the disease were posted to Senate majority leader Tom Daschle in Washington and television anchorman Tom Brokaw in New York.

She is being treated with antibiotics in hospital and is said to be "clinically improving". Another person working in the same building is being monitored for the disease.

So far, 13 people have contracted either inhaled anthrax or the more easily treated skin version. Three others have died, including two post office workers in Virginia last week.