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 3 biological agents?

They include bacteria, viruses, fungi (including yeasts and moulds) and internal human parasites (endoparasites). The majority of these agents are harmless however some may have potential to cause ill health.

What is the highest bioterrorism agent level?

Bioterrorism agents can be separated into three categories, depending on how easily they can be spread and the severity of illness or death they cause. Category A agents are considered the highest risk and Category C agents are those that are considered emerging threats for disease.

What are the 3 bioterrorism threat levels?

The biological weapons as per the CDC classification are classified into three categories, Category A, B and C, as given in Table 1, based on the priority of the agents to pose a risk to the national security and the ease with which they can be disseminated [7].

Is Ebola a bioterrorism agent?

Ebola threat as bioterrorist attack The virus is classified as category A bioterrorism threats by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for several reasons [1]. First, the filoviruses are highly lethal, causing severe hemorrhagic fever disease in humans and apes with high mortality rates (up to 90%).

What are the four types of biological agents?

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

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 …

Are viruses biological weapons?

Biological weapons are microorganisms like virus, bacteria, fungi, or other toxins that are produced and released deliberately to cause disease and death in humans, animals or plants.

How do I report bioterrorism?

For a complete list of Bioterrorism agents, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. Physicians: To report Bioterrorism to the Department of Health, please immediately contact the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Administration at (202) 671-4222.

How do you handle bioterrorism?

Wash yourself with soap and water and put on clean clothes. Contact authorities and seek medical assistance. You may be advised to stay away from others or even to quarantine. If your symptoms match those described and you are in the group considered at risk, immediately seek emergency medical attention.

What is bioterrorism in food?

The term ‘food bioterrorism’ is generally defined as ‘an act or threat of deliberate contamination of food for human consumption with chemical, biological or radionuclear agents for the purpose of causing injury or death to civilian populations and/or disrupting social, economic or political stability’ (WHO, 2002).

What are examples of bioterrorism?

Agents/Diseases

Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis)
Botulism (Clostridium botulinum toxin)
Plague (Yersinia pestis)
Smallpox (variola major)
Tularemia (Francisella tularensis)
Viral hemorrhagic fevers, including. Filoviruses (Ebola, Marburg) Arenaviruses (Lassa, Machupo)