Microbes used in bioterrorism and biological warfare have been placed in three different categories based on various characteristics of the microbes.
The categories are simple: they are categories A, B, and C. Microbes in category A are the most "dangerous and useful" to bioterrorists and are called High Priority agents. Microbes in category B are less "dangerous and useful" (Second Highest Priority agents) and microbes in category C (Third Highest Priority agents) are potentially "dangerous and useful" microbes for bioterrorists.
The criteria for placing a microbe in Category A are as follows:
- They can easily be disseminated or transmitted person-to-person.
- They can cause high mortality, with potential for major public health impact. Many of the infected will die (80-90 percent) and caring for the ill will have a drastic effect on health care resources.
- Likely to cause cause public panic and social disruption.
- Require special action for public health preparedness. Not the garden variety microbe but one that is rarely a problem for people in this world.
The microbes (agents) on the A list are the following:
- Bacillus anthracis (anthrax)- a bacterium that has been sent to various people in the United States by who-knows-who (Sept. 11- Nov. 14, 2001).
- Variola major (smallpox)- a virus. Not a good idea yet to start up vaccination to prevent this disease. The damage and death due to the vaccine can be quite high.
- Francisella tularensis (tularemia)- a bacterium. Can get it from tick bites, black fly bites and handling rabbits ill with this bacterium.
- Yersinia pestis (plague)- a bacterium. Can get it in the southwestern U.S. from fleas that have also fed on wild rodents infected with this bacterium.
- Clostridium botulinum toxin (botulism)- a protein from a bacterium that can cause paralysis of the muscles. This toxin prevents the muscles from contracting leaving a person really limp.
- Viral hemorrhagic fever (include arenaviruses, filoviruses, bunyaviruses, and flaviviruses)- many, many different viruses spread in many different ways. All of these viruses can cause a person to start bleeding out their mouth, nose and rectum.
The criteria for placing agents in Category B are:
- Are moderately easy to disseminate. Not as easy to spread as Category A.
- Cause moderate morbidity and low mortality. These agents aren't as deadly nor do they make people as ill.
- Require specific enhancements of CDC's diagnostic capacity and enhanced disease surveillance. Once again, these are agents we don't normally work with on a daily basis.
The microbes (agents) on the B list are the following.
- Coxiella burnetti (Q fever)- a bacterium that can spread in the area and can cause pneumonia.
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