The death of an 84-year-old man who lived in the same area as the elderly woman who died of inhalation anthrax last week does not appear to be related, Gov. John G. Rowland said Tuesday.

The man died at home several weeks ago, and his body was not discovered for a few days, Rowland said.

“The 84-year-old man from Seymour did not die from anthrax,” he said. “That report is conclusive from [the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and from our own public health officials.”

The case had drawn attention because of the possibility the man’s mail had crossed with mail for 94-year-old Ottilie Lundgren, who died Wednesday of inhalation anthrax.

Authorities do not know whether Lundgren was infected through the mail, and tests of her home, recent mail, her mailbox and area post offices showed no contamination. But authorities have not ruled out the possibility that she was infected by mail that crossed paths with the anthrax-laden envelopes sent to members of Congress and the media in Washington, D.C., and New York.

–Associated Press