CDC High-Priority Biological Agents and Toxins*
Category | Agent |
|---|---|
A: Highest priority | Bacillus anthracis, causing anthrax Botulinum toxin from Clostridium botulinum, causing botulism Yersinia pestis, causing plague Francisella tularensis, causing tularemia Variola virus, causing variola major (classic smallpox) Viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) viruses:
|
B: Second highest priority | Brucella species, causing brucellosis Epsilon toxin of Clostridium perfringens causing food poisoning Salmonella causing food poisoning; Escherichia coli O157:H7 ; and Shigella, causing shigellosis Burkholderia mallei, causing glanders Burkholderia pseudomallei, causing melioidosis Chlamydia psittaci, causing psittacosis Coxiella burnetii, causing Q fever Ricin toxin from Ricinus communis Staphylococcal enterotoxin B causing staphylococcal food poisoning Rickettsia prowazekii, causing typhus fever Alphaviruses causing viral encephalitides (eg, Venezuelan, eastern, and western equine encephalitides) Vibrio cholerae, Cryptosporidium parvum, and other agents, causing waterborne diseases (eg, cholera, cryptosporidiosis) |
C: Third highest priority | Nipah virus, hantavirus, coronaviruses, and influenza viruses capable of causing pandemic influenza Other agents associated with emerging infectious diseases |
* An alphabetical listing of bioterrorism agents and diseases can be found at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Emergency Preparedness and Response. | |