Drummer dies from anthrax on bongos

A LONDON musician has died after contracting a rare form of anthrax from the skins of bongo drums the first death from the disease in England for 24 years.

Father-of-four Fernando Gomez, 35, from Hackney, died in Homerton hospital yesterday with his family around him.

He is believed to have inhaled anthrax spores from African animal hides that he used to make bongos. The form of anthrax cannot be passed from person to person.

Mr Gomez, from Madrid, had been in Britain for several years and played in a group called Alasvals.

The Health Protection Agency sealed off his flat to check for contamination and will examine his nearby workshop this week. No one else has developed any symptoms.

Professor Nigel Lightfoot, the HPA's chief adviser, said people living near the flat or workshop were 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 added.