The FBI is investigating the death of a British-born journalist in the US after he was exposed to anthrax disease at his workplace.
The investigation into how the spores were in the offices of supermarket tabloid publisher American Media Incorporated in Boca Raton, Florida, was taken over by the FBI last night as fears rose it was a terrorist attack.
Anthrax spores were found on the computer keyboard belonging to British-born Mr Bob Stevens, who was picture editor of tabloid newspaper The Sun. Mr Stevens was admitted to hospital before he died of pulmonary anthrax, suffering from confusion and vomiting.
About 300 workers at American Media Incorporated, which publishes the National Enquirerand Globetabloids, were told to stay away from work and see their doctors immediately.
Local public health officials had earlier said the death last Friday of 63-year-old Stevens and the exposure of a 73-year-old man to spores that cause the disease were isolated incidents caused by naturally occurring anthrax.
But last night, the FBI were called in when it emerged anthrax does not occur naturally in Florida.
US attorney-general Mr John Ashcroft said: "We don't have enough information to know if this could be related to terrorism."
Anthrax is a potentially deadly bacterial infection that can be incubated in the body for up to 60 days before it develops into the full-blown disease. It is most commonly found in cattle, sheep and goats. Its spores can live in the soil for years.
PA