Fernando Gomez Dies

In an earlier post I mention a drum maker catching Anthrax through handling animal skins, unfortunately Mr Gomez died yesterday, married, he leaves 4 children, East London health officials have sealed his flat and contacts have been given medication. A few facts about Anthrax, • It was first identified by German scientist Robert Koch during the 1870s. He went on to win the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine. • Traditionally people most at risk are those who work with animals or in industries processing animal products such as meat and wool. • It cannot be passed from person to person - the only way for humans to be infected is by being exposed to large numbers of its spores.

It is an infectious and potentially fatal disease of warm-blooded animals, especially of cattle and sheep, caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax can also occasionally effect human population.