Gareth.Walsh@Sunday –Times.co.uk (Aug 16, 2006) & 6 articles from   http://news.scotman.com

A self-employed Scottish artist who made sculptures, decoratives items, and bongo drums contracted anthrax.  It is assumed he contracted the disease from working with untreated imported animal hides.  ACTS FACTS reported last April on a New York drum maker who contracted anthrax from imported hides.  The US artist recovered, but the Scotsman died on July 8 in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. 

Fifty-year-old Christopher Pascal Norris became the first person in Britain to die of anthrax in 30 years.  Mr. Norris’ home was sealed off by police and there is an 8-foot steel fence around his garden.  Authorities from Health Protection Scotland said the disease is not passed from person to person, but they asked anyone who visited the artist’s home before July 17 to contact the National Heath Service (NHS) for further information.  As of August sixth, 162 people were checked for the infection.  None have symptoms, but preventive antibiotic treatment was given to 74 people.  The NHS advises anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms, a dry cough, or unusual skin lesion for up to 2 months after visiting the artist’s home to seek further medical counsel. 

The NHS also urged musicians who have bought a bongo drum in recent months to investigate its origins.  Although it is believed that Norris did not sell the drums he made, it is feared that people to whom he had given the drums as gifts may have sold them to others.  NHS urged anyone who thinks they own a drum that Norris may have made to double-bag it and call their helpline.

Copied with permission from ACTS FACTS, Monona Rossol, Editor, 181 Thompson St., #23, New York, NY 10012 ACTSNYC@cs.com-www.artscraftstheatersafety.org  COPYRIGHT: ACTS, September, 2006 ISSN 1070-9274

NBC 4, posted 6:22 PDT May 17, 204 Updated: 8:40 AM PDT May 17, 2004

http://www.nbc4.tv/print/3313034/detail.html

A pyrotechnic stunt performed at the 4th annual Taurus World Stunt Awards in May at Paramount Studios created a fireball far bigger than planned, organizers said.  To the surprise of co-hosts Dennis Hopper and Carmen Electra, as well as 1,5000 audience members, including Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Keanu Reeves, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Burt Reynolds, the finale of the show resulted in almost total destruction o the platform stage.

Toward the end of the show, co-host Electra pulled a cigar from second-year host Denis Hopper and threw it at a predetermined area where it was to ignite in a mock explosion.  Instead, the explosion produced a fireball that created enough heat to be felt in the first row of the crowd.  There were no injuries, but even experienced stunt people were reportedly stunned by the explosion, according to a statement from TWSA.  The stunt thrilled the crowd, few of whom realized the stunt had gone awry. Copied with permission from ACTS FACTS, Monona Rossol, Editor, 181 Thompson St., #23, New York, NY 10012-2586 ACTSNYC@cs.com-www.artscraftstheatersafety.org  COPYRIGHT: ACTS, July 2004 Vol 18, No 27

Last updated 11/14/08

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