WEST PALM BEACH, Oct 9: US authorities on Tuesday morning played down the possibility of a third case of anthrax and appealed for calm even as the FBI investigated the possibility of criminal action.

The diagnosis in Florida of a second case of anthrax, and a possible third case in Virginia, had stirred fears of possible criminal action with the deadly bacteria.

However, a doctor at Prince William Hospital told CNN that anthrax “is an unlikely diagnosis” of third patient, who is in stable condition with flu-like symptoms. He said definitive results of laboratory test conducted on the patient would be known in 24 hours.

Florida’s health secretary appealed for people to remain calm.

“All the samples (were) located in one building. We have no indication at this point that anyone in the general public is at increased risk,” Dr John Agwunobi told NBC Tuesday morning.

Dr Thomas Ryan said the third patient, a 40-year-old man who apparently worked in a building belonging to American Media Inc, was afraid he may have been contaminated with the anthrax bacteria. It was not clear whether the man had been in Florida, where the anthrax outbreak occurred.

AMI owns a series of supermarket tabloids including the National Enquirer, which has published unflattering portraits of Osama bin Laden, considered the power behind September’s devastating terror attacks.

Robert Stevens, a 63-year-old photo editor at the Sun tabloid in Boca Raton, Florida, died Friday at a local hospital after apparently inhaling anthrax spores.

Days later his colleague — a 73-year-old mailroom employee from the same building — was admitted to hospital showing signs of having been infected by the same bacteria. He was in stable condition, Florida health officials said late Monday, as the bacteria was detected quickly.

In the wake of the September 11 attacks on Washington and New York, and confronted with repeated warnings from lawmakers and administration officials of more strikes, Americans are increasingly afraid of a bioterrorist attack.

Stevens’ death and the news that another American Media Inc. employee had tested positive for the deadly bacteria elicited suspicion from investigators that the cases were not a coincidence.

“We have not ruled out anything at this time,” US Attorney General John Ashcroft said Monday. “We regard this as an investigation that could become a criminal investigation,” though he was quick to add that there was not yet enough information to unequivocally state that terrorism was involved.

Hundreds of employees at AMI have been tested for the bacteria and treated with antibiotics as a precaution.—AFP