FBI called in to probe anthrax scare

The FBI is investigating the death of a journalist in Florida after he was exposed to the anthrax disease at his workplace.

63-year-old Bob Stevens died on Friday after inhaling anthrax spores in the offices of American Media Incorporated in Boca Raton.

A 73-year-old mail man is also believed to have contracted the disease in the same office.

Public health officials had insisted that the cases were isolated and caused by naturally occurring anthrax, but last night, the FBI was called in when it emerged that anthrax does not occur naturally in Florida.

US Attorney General John Ashcroft said last night: “We don’t have enough information to know if this could be related to terrorism.”

There are reports that the anthrax spores may have been inside a package that was delivered to the journalist.

Anthrax is a potentially deadly bacterial infection.

Only 18 people have contracted the disease through inhalation in the US in the last 100 years.