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;
- require special action for public
health preparedness.
Category A Diseases/Agents
(Click on a Disease/Agent for definitions, FAQ's
and links)
Category B Diseases/Agents
- Are moderately easy to disseminate
- Result in moderate morbidity rates and low mortality
rates
- Difficult to detect under current methods
Category B Biological Agents include:
Sources for the FAQs and
definitions were the CDC and JAMA Consensus Statement.