Categories of Bioterrorism

There are 3 categories of bioterrorism agents which start out with the highest priority level and go down.

Category A

1. spreads from person to person or animal to person


2. high death rates


3. causes public panic


4. examples: anthrax, smallpox, and bubonic plague
   

Category B

1. somewhat easy to spread, requires monitoring


2. low death rates
   
3. examples: brucellosis (transmitted by digesting contaminated meat from animals), other food safety threats
   

Category C

1. easily available and spread


2. could pose a threat in the future due to emerging pathogens


3. example: yellow fever (transmitted through mosquitoes to people)