Exposed Florida Man Falls Ill With Anthrax An American Media Inc. mailroom employee who was exposed to anthrax has fallen ill, state officials confirm. Ernesto Blanco, 73, has been diagnosed with the inhaled form of anthrax, state health officials said Monday.Florida health officials say Blanco is improving, and that they’re encouraged by his progress. And: the anthrax-bearing NBC letter and the letter that arrived today at Tom Daschle’s office were both postmarked Sept. 18th in Trenton, NJ. Two postal workers who have fallen ill (although one of them has “poison-ivy-like” symptoms) are being tested for anthrax exposure.