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Those hide-covered instruments that bring so much rhythmic pleasure may also be a source of dangerous illness: anthrax poisoning.
That's the word from government health officials following up on the case of a 24-year-old New Hampshire woman who developed gastrointestinal anthrax following a drumming circle late last year.
The woman, a vegan and organic farmer, had to undergo bowel surgery and nearly two months of hospitalization after she contracted the potentially deadly disease, apparently from the contaminated surfaces of hide-bound drums.
Her case is examined in the latest edition of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As many as 84 people may have been exposed to the tainted instruments during a drumming circle held at a community center in late December 2009, although the young woman was the only reported case of illness.
A CDC probe pinpointed the culprits: A 3-foot hairy cowhide drum and a tiny tambourine-like drum.
Other drummers or drum-makers who use animal hides have come down with anthrax in the past, but they had the kind that develops from breaks in the skin or when the anthrax spores are inhaled. The New Hampshire woman was the first to develop the gut-based form of the infection that made her so sick.
The drums used by the woman had a long history of use by others who didn't come down with anthrax and CDC investigators couldn't say exactly why. In any case, they conclude that the risk of infection is extremely low, partly because U.S. livestock regulations mean animal hides used here for drums aren't likely to be contaminated.
As for the victim, she's recovered and is doing well. No word on whether she's still got the beat.
Still, for those who aren't wild about drumming circles, anthrax poisoning may be one more reason to avoid them.
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Drum circles are not a “Hippie” thing. Thousands of people around the world lead and participate in drum circles at community centers, in corporations, schools, assisted care and special needs facilities. Check the Drum Circle Facilitators Guild website for more information.
Actually they are forced on normal people by weirdo hippies.
Is it normal for a vegan to use a hide-bound drum? Does she play while wearing a leather belt and a necklace of kitten skulls?
Unsure of what a vegan is?? A person who doesn't EAT animals... What on earth does being a vegan have to do with this story?? I'm a vegan and I love leather! OOOOhhhh, you thought she ate the drum. Sorry, my bad...
If you are a vegan then OBVIOUSLY you understand that many (if not most) that choose that lifestyle do so out of a moral standing as well as the dietary benefits.Â
It was a joke, so don't be another stupid, obtuse troll on a comment board.
A little touchy today are we? Not so Wel?
Maybe you should get in a drum circle and you´d feel a bit better.
Vegans, by definition will not use any animal product for food or clothing or purpose. They won't even use wax from a beehive. The leather on the drum, therefore excludes her from being a vegan. She is instead, by definition, a vegetarian.
Wikipedia:
[T]he word "veganism" denotes a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude — as far as is possible and practical — all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals.[1]
Thanks for the information :)
Oh for god's sake. WTF are animals here for? Mankind has used animals for food, clothing, etc forever. Some people go overboard with this crap. And most of them are so "holier than thou "about it.
only because we actually are holier than thou
Odd that the writer considers this a "Hippie" thing. People from all walks of life do this.
Your right, Obama and his friends do it every night in the White House while sharing some Hawaiian.
Why is it that vegans exploit plant life, but won't touch animals, except to own them. Which is a very respectable thing to do...
The FDA pulls Kombucha off the shelves because one brand had a so called elevated alcohol content so all brands were pulled even though they were not the culprit. Now we are told drum circles cause anthrax. Where will the BS end? Anyone who believes this nonsense is quite gullible. If we don't bail out the banks our financial institutions will collapse. One thing after another..... where is the truth????
At least we now know who did all the anthrax poisonings a few years ago. Hippies.
Way to go on a disrespectful, narrow-minded, and lame/outdated article there, JoNel. Maybe you'll next write an enlightening article about that weird cult whose members eat the body and blood of their Messiah every Sunday.
I heard that cult's guy was the first vampire, being the first to have risen from the dead
If I didn't know any better, I would say this piece was written by non other than Eric Cartmann himself! Honest to god, I really have to wonder about the future of my species!!!
A vegan... willing to kill an animal to bang on it's hide...Things that make you go Hmmmmmm
Obviously the "vegan" didn't kill the animal...but sometimes, isn't the killing of animals why they are vegeterian in the first place...
That was very very infromative, and something I never heard about before. For your next article, how about an article about ravers on "ecstasy", all five of them that remain? Thank God Almighty there's a crew of bikers on crystal meth down the street to keep them all away.