A man diagnosed with inhalation anthrax suffered another setback when his condition changed from fair to serious, hospital officials said Friday.

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, Bradford County, where Mr. Diomande had been in fair condition.

That changed late Thursday, when the 44-year-old "experienced a temporary setback in his recovery" and was in serious condition, according to a statement from the hospital.

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

First Published: March 12, 2006, 5:00 a.m.