NEW YORK (AP) – A man diagnosed with inhalation anthrax remained in serious condition Saturday afternoon after suffering a setback Thursday, hospital officials said.

Vado Diomande, a dancer and drum maker, collapsed on Feb. 17 after performing with his dance company at Mansfield University in Pennsylvania. He is being treated at Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, Pa.

His condition was downgraded from fair to serious late Thursday when the 44-year-old “experienced a temporary setback in his recovery,” according to a statement from the hospital.

Diomande started to experience flu-like symptoms in January after he traveled to Ivory Coast in December and brought back goat hides to make drums. Health officials believe he may have inhaled anthrax spores while making the instruments.

Subsequent testing revealed low levels of anthrax at both Diomande’s apartment and the Brooklyn warehouse where he worked.

AP-ES-03-11-06 1515EST