What is the risk of getting anthrax from an animal hide drum?
The risk of developing anthrax from handling an animal hide drum is considered to be very low. However, the risk cannot be described as “zero risk”. There is no risk linked to handling the hides of healthy animals, or drums made from the hides of healthy animals. Hides from countries where anthrax is common may pose a higher risk of exposure to anthrax spores than domestic (US-origin) hides. A single case (Florida, USA) of cutaneous anthrax that occurred in 1974 was associated with a goat hide bongo drum purchased in Haiti, where anthrax is common. Worldwide, a single, fatal case of inhalation anthrax has been reported which was determined to be associated with using or handling animal hide drums. In this case (Scotland 2006), it was concluded that the patient, who may have had increased susceptibility to infectious diseases, became infected as a result of using or handling contaminated hide drums.
