Bilogical

Biological Diseases/Agents List

Category A

»	Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis)
	•	General Information
	•	Lab & Health Professionals
»	Botulism (Clostridium botulinum toxin)
»	Plague (Yersinia pestis)
»	Smallpox (variola major)
»	Tularemia (Francisella tularensis)
»	Viral hemorrhagic fevers (filoviruses [e.g., Ebola, Marburg] and arenaviruses [e.g., Lassa, Machupo])

Category B

»	Brucellosis (Brucella species)
»	Epsilon toxin of Clostridium perfringens
»	Food safety threats (e.g., Salmonella species, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Shigella)
»	Glanders (Burkholderia mallei)
»	Melioidosis (Burkholderia pseudomallei)
»	Psittacosis (Chlamydia psittaci)
»	Q fever (Coxiella burnetii)
»	Ricin toxin from Ricinus communis (castor beans)
»	Staphylococcal enterotoxin B
»	Typhus fever (Rickettsia prowazekii)
»	Viral encephalitis (alphaviruses [e.g., Venezuelan equine encephalitis, eastern equine encephalitis, western equine encephalitis])
»	Water safety threats (e.g., Vibrio cholerae, Cryptosporidium parvum)

Category C

»	Emerging infectious disease threats such as Nipah virus and hantavirus

Category Descriptions

»	Category A Diseases/Agents
	The U.S. public health system and primary healthcare providers must be prepared to address various biological agents, including pathogens that are rarely seen in the United States. High-priority agents include organisms that pose a risk to national security because they can be easily disseminated or transmitted from person to person; result in high mortality rates and have the potential for major public health impact; might cause public panic and social disruption; and require special action for public health preparedness.
»	Category B Diseases/Agents
	Second highest priority agents include those that are moderately easy to disseminate; result in moderate morbidity rates and low mortality rates; and require specific enhancements of CDC's diagnostic capacity and enhanced disease surveillance.
»	Category C Diseases/Agents
	Third highest priority agents include emerging pathogens that could be engineered for mass dissemination in the future because of availability; ease of production and dissemination; and potential for high morbidity and mortality rates and major health impact.