Florida man dies of anthrax

LANTANA, Fla. -- A 63-year-old Florida man died of the inhaled form of anthrax Friday in the first such death in the United States in 25 years. The case raised fears of a biological attack, but health officials said there is no evidence he was the victim of terrorism.

Bob Stevens, a photo editor at the supermarket tabloid The Sun, died at JFK Medical Center in Atlantis after antibiotics failed to help. He suffered kidney failure and cardiac arrest.

"It was not unexpected," said Dr. Larry Bush, an infectious-disease specialist.

Federal and state health investigators emphasized that the disease is not contagious and no other cases have been reported. But they are trying to reconstruct Stevens' movements and track down the source of the disease. The FBI is involved, as is the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Anthrax has been developed by some countries as a possible biological weapon, and the terrorist attacks Sept. 11 have put many people on edge about the threat.