TYPES OF BIOLOGICAL AGENTS

•There are three categories of biological agents potential enough to cause mass casualties (Center for Disease Control & Prevention). •Category A, B & C •Those in category A have the greatest potential for fear and disruption and most significant public health impacts.

CATEGORY - A•Easily disseminated or transmitted person-to-person•High mortality•Require special action for public health preparedness•Viruses: Variola major (smallpox), Filo viruses (Ebola, Marburg), Arenaviruses (Lassa, Junin)•Bacteria: Bacillus anthracis (anthrax), Yersinia pestis (plague), Francisella tularensis (tularemia)•Toxins: Clostridium botulinum toxin (botulism)

CATEGORY – B

•Moderately easy to disseminate•Moderate morbidity and low mortality•Require improved diagnostic capacity & enhanced surveillance•Viruses: Alphaviruses•Bacteria: Coxiella burnetii (Q fever), Brucella spp. (brucellosis), Burkholderia mallei (glanders)•Toxins: Rinus communis (caster beans) ricin toxin, Clostridium perfringens episolon toxin, Staphylococcus enterotoxin B

CATEGORY - C

•Viruses: Nipah, hantaviruses, tick borne hemorrhagic fever viruses, tick borne encephalitis viruses, yellow fever•Bacteria: Multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis