Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (VHFs). Along with smallpox, anthrax, plague, botulism, and tularemia, hemorrhagic fever viruses are among six agents identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as the most likely to be used as biological weapons.

What type of biological agent is anthrax?

Bacillus anthracis, the bacteria that causes anthrax, is one of the most likely agents to be used in a biological attack.

What biological agent category does smallpox belong to?

Category A Plague (Yersinia pestis) Smallpox (variola major)

What are Category C biological agents?

Classification of Bioterrorism Agents Category C includes pathogens that are considered emerging infectious disease threats and which could be engineered for mass dissemination.

What are the three categories of biological agents?

The United States Center for Disease Control (CDC) has divided the agents which can be used as biological weapons into three categories, Category A, B, and C. Though these agents are rarely seen in the United States, we must prepare for them because they pose the greatest risk to our national security.

Is Smallpox a biological agent?

Although smallpox was eradicated in 1980, it remains a potential agent of biowarfare and bioterrorism. It is considered a category A organism, which is easy to disseminate and transmit from person to person.

What is anthrax agent?

Anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria known as Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax can be found naturally in soil and commonly affects domestic and wild animals around the world.

What category is anthrax?

Anthrax is classified as a Category A agent. One factor contributing to this classification is the ability of B. anthracis spores to persist in the environment for many years and the difficulty of inactivating them.

How are biological agents categorized?

Biological Agents are classified in the Code of Practice to the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Biological Agents) Regulations 2013 and 2020, into four risk groups – groups 1, 2, 3 and 4. The classification system is based on whether: The agent is pathogenic to humans. The agent is a hazard to employees.

What are the four types of biological agents?

Biological agents include bacteria, viruses, fungi, other microorganisms and their associated toxins.

How could smallpox be used as a biological weapon?

Smallpox was also used as a biological weapon during the French and Indian Wars (1754–1767) by the commander of Fort Pitt. Soldiers distributed blankets that had been used by smallpox patients with the intent of initiating outbreaks among American Indians. An epidemic occurred, killing more than 50% of infected tribes.

What are the two categories of bioterrorism?

Bioterrorism agents are divided into three categories based on their ease of spread and the severity of illness they cause. Category A agents are most dangerous, and Category C agents are current emerging threats. Require special action for public health preparedness.

How is bioterrorism defined or classified?

Bioterrorism is the intentional release or threat of release of biologic agents (i.e. viruses, bacteria, fungi or their toxins) in order to cause disease or death among human population or food crops and livestock to terrorize a civilian population or manipulate the government [3].

How many types of biological agents are there?

More than 1,200 different kinds of potentially weaponizable bio-agents have been described and studied to date.

What are the major categories of biological threats?

There are three basic groups of biological agents that could likely be used as weapons: bacteria, viruses and toxins. Biological agents can be spread by spraying them into the air, person-to-person contact, infecting animals that carry the disease to humans and by contaminating food and water.

What are the 6 biological agents?

Biological agents that have been identified as posing the greatest threat are variola major (smallpox), Bacillus anthracis (anthrax), Yersinia pestis (plague), Clostridium botulinum toxin (botulism), Francisella tularensis (tularaemia), filoviruses (Ebola hemorrrhagic fever and Marburg hemorrhagic fever), and