Alert as artist dies of anthrax

Aug 17 2006 By Guy Basnett, The Journal

A North artist has died after becoming infected with anthrax in the UK's first fatal case of the disease for 32 years.

Christopher Norris, 50, who lived in the Scottish Borders, is thought to have become infected while making musical instruments from animal hides.

His home, in the remote Stobs area, near Hawick, was sealed off by health experts yesterday as they worked to pinpoint the source of the infection.

Family and friends last night spoke of their shock and paid tribute to a "unique" and "colourful character" renowned as a "highly skilled craftsman".

Sister-in-law Claire Clarke said: "It's tragic. We're still reeling from the information."

Health officials listed 20 people who were potentially at risk from the infection.

Ten people had already been contacted and anyone else who might have entered Mr Norris's home in the last 28 days was urged to get in touch.

Mr Norris, known as Pascal, lived alone at Black Lodge, near Stobs Castle.

Friends last night described how, in the week before his death, he thought he was suffering from a cold.

But on Friday, July 7, his condition deteriorated and he was taken to a Hawick health surgery and assessed before being transferred to the Borders General Hospital.

He was then moved to Edinburgh's Royal Infirmary, where he died early on Saturday.

It has taken since then to establish the cause of death. Anthrax is last known to have killed a human in the UK in 1974.

Ms Clarke said: "The day before he went to hospital he was actually feeling better, but then he had a very bad night and felt quite weak.

"When he went to see a doctor the next day, an ambulance was called immediately.

"He collapsed quite soon after arriving at hospital. I don't think he ever regained consciousness and died within 24 hours of his arrival."

Health officials said tests confirmed inhalatory anthrax as the likely cause of death.

Anthrax is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis and occurs in cattle, sheep and goats. It can be contracted through skin-to-skin contact, breathing in anthrax spores, or eating infected meat.

The spores can survive in soil for many years.

Dr John Cowden, consultant in health protection at Health Protection Scotland, said Mr Norris had been a "very, very unlucky man". Risk to other people was low, he said. Dr Cowden went on: "We're trying to find out where the disease came from and where it might have gone to.

"At the moment, no-one has come forward with any symptoms and if anybody had been infected it's likely they would have been showing symptoms by now.

"The only people who are at risk are people who came into contact with the same source of infection." People who visited Mr Norris's home are advised to seek medical help if they suffer flu-like symptoms, a dry cough or unusual skin lesions.

Dr Cowden said it is most likely Mr Norris had been infected from animal hides.

He said: "Anthrax can be contracted through work with animal skins, and he was working with hides, so it seems most likely that is the cause of the infection.

"It either has to be domestic hides, or hides that were imported."

He said they were investigating reports that Mr Norris has used hides from domestic animals, including badgers he had found dead near his home.

The Buddhist convert was born in Edinburgh and is a former pupil of Edinburgh Art College. He made and sold instruments, including drums and violins.

Two officers from Lothian and Borders Police were yesterday standing guard outside his home.

Two other buildings, possibly workshops, were sealed off.

Anyone who visited Mr Norris's home in the last 28 days should call NHS Borders on (08000) 282816.

Page 2: Family and friends tell of their shock