New York – A New York City drum maker has been hospitalized with a case of inhaled anthrax that officials say he may have gotten from the raw animal hides he imports from Africa.
Authorities said Wednesday that the infection appeared to be accidental – not terrorism – and did not pose a serious public-health threat.
Vado Diomande, 44, had traveled recently to the west coast of Africa and fell ill in Pennsylvania last week shortly after he returned to this country with some hides, authorities said.
It was not clear how Diomande came into contact with the deadly substance, or whether it happened in Africa or in this country. But aides to Mayor Michael Bloomberg said it was related to his job making drums from animal skins.
At least four other people may have been exposed to anthrax spores, including a family member of the infected man who worked with the hides, and three were being treated with antibiotics, city Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden said.
“Every indication suggests that this is naturally occurring anthrax,” Frieden said.
Authorities also were screening the man’s rented work area in Brooklyn, in his vehicle and in his Manhattan apartment.
