| The federal government has categorized critical biological agents into three groups: A, B, and C. Those agents in category A are highest-priority because they: | View Page |
| Category C Agents in the third highest priority, Category C, include emerging pathogens that could be engineered for mass dissemination at some future date because of: Availability Ease of production and dissemination Potential for high morbidity and mortality and major health impact | View Page |
| Agent: Smallpox (Virus) Most likely means of dissemination: As an aerosolPrimary route of entry: InhalationGeneral signs and symptoms: High fever, extreme lethargy, severe headache, severe backache, severe abdominal pain, with a rash that starts as red bumps but quickly develops into small, itchy blisters. Photo courtesy of the CDC archives. | View Page |
| Agent: Anthrax (Bacterium) Most likely means of dissemination: In a solid state Primary route of entry: Inhalation (also ingestion and absorption) General signs and symptoms: Early symptoms are flu-like—chills, fever, nausea, and swelling of lymph nodes. | View Page |
| Agent: Pneumonic plague (Bacterium) Most likely means of dissemination: AerosolPrimary route of entry: InhalationGeneral signs and symptoms: High fever, chills, headache, coughing up of blood (hemoptysis), and toxemia, progressing rapidly to difficulty in breathing (dyspnea), and bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes (cyanosis).There is another form of the disease called “bubonic plague”. While it is caused by the same organism, it is not transmissible through human contact. Pneumonic plague is transmissible through human contact. | View Page |
| Agent: Botulism (bacterium) Most likely means of dissemination: Aerosol (eating contaminated food)Primary route of entry: Inhalation (oral)General signs and symptoms: Difficulty with speaking, swallowing, or blurred or double vision, drooping eyelids (ptosis), dilated pupils, dry mouth, decreased gag reflex, weakening of the reflexes (hyporeflexia), abnormal sensations such as numbness, prickling, tingling, and arm or leg weakness.Botulism is caused by a neurotoxin and technically could be classified as a chemical WMD. For our discussion it is placed under biological agents because the toxin is derived from a bacterium. Botulism is potentially life-threatening, producing a characteristic clinical picture of muscular paralysis leading to respiratory failure. Photo courtesy of the CDC archives. | View Page |
| Agent: Tularemia (bacterium) Most likely means of dissemination: Solid or aerosolPrimary route of entry: Inhalation, absorption, or ingestionGeneral signs and symptoms: Sudden fever, chills, headaches, muscle aches, joint pain, dry cough, progressive weakness, and pneumonia.The disease is not transmissible through human contact. When used as a WMD, infection would be acquired by handling infected material, eating or drinking contaminated food or water or by breathing in the bacterium. | View Page |
| Agent: Viral hemorrhagic fevers (Ebola, Marburg, Lassa and Argentine) Most likely means of dissemination: Solid, liquid or aerosolPrimary route of entry: Absorption, inhalation, ingestionGeneral signs and symptoms: Vary by type of viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF), but initial signs and symptoms often include marked fever, fatigue, dizziness, muscle aches, loss of strength, and exhaustion. Severe cases of VHF often show signs of bleeding under the skin, in internal organs, or from body orifices like the mouth, eyes, or ears. Photo courtesy of the CDC archives. | View Page |
| Advantages of using Biological Agents as WMDs They are easily available.Biological pathogens can be obtained from nature, hospital laboratories, university research facilities, etc.They can be hard to detect.Small quantities can have potentially deadly or incapacitating effects on a susceptible population.They can be used covertly.They can be spread throughout large areas by natural convection, air or water currents. They can be easily spread.Ventilation systems in buildings is one way biological agents may be spread. In addition, transportation facilities could become part of the dissemination system by carrying biological agents far from their initial source. | View Page |