The man has been in intensive care in the Homerton hospital for the last seven days and is said to be "critical but stable".
Officials in biological and chemical protection suits are due to evacuate flats where he lives in Hackney to begin searching for any evidence of further danger to the public.
Seven more people who could also have been exposed to the bacteria have been given antibiotics.
An investigation is now under way into how the freak infection occurred at the home of the man, who is believed to be a Spanish musician.
The Health Protection Agency believes the man inhaled the spores as he removed the hair from animal hides to make bongo drums.
It is the first time in Britain that anyone is believed to have suffered any form of anthrax because of animal skin drums.
Professor Nigel Lightfoot, chief adviser at the Health Protection Agency, said: "This patient makes and then plays animal skin drums for a living.
"It is through making these drums that exposure to and inhalation of anthrax spores on an imported animal hide has taken place.
"The risk to others who play these drums is very low. It is the process of removing the animal hairs during the making of drums that can put people at risk.
"It is important that anyone who makes drums from imported animal hides is aware of this risk and knows about the symptoms of anthrax."
The HPA said the infection was a very rare case of inhalation anthrax the most deadly form of exposure to the bacteria. It happens when millions of the tiny spores are drawn into the lungs.
"Once they germinate they release several toxic substances, which cause internal bleeding, swelling, and tissue death."
Five people were killed by inhaling the spores when anthrax was sent by post to a series of media organisations and politicians in America in October and November 2001, supposedly by a scientist with access to the biological agent.
Anthrax spores are found in the top level of soil across the world. They are often found in the skins of grazing animals.
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