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What is considered a biological agent?

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What is considered a biological agent?

Biological agents include bacteria, viruses, fungi, other microorganisms and their associated toxins. They have the ability to adversely affect human health in a variety of ways, ranging from relatively mild, allergic reactions to serious medical conditions—even death.

Which category of biological agents is considered high priority?

Category A These high-priority agents include organisms or toxins that pose the highest risk to the public and national security: Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) Botulism (Clostridium botulinum toxin) Plague (Yersinia pestis)

What are the types of biological warfare agents?

Agents/Diseases

  • Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis)
  • Botulism (Clostridium botulinum toxin)
  • Plague (Yersinia pestis)
  • Smallpox (variola major)
  • Tularemia (Francisella tularensis)
  • Viral hemorrhagic fevers, including. Filoviruses (Ebola, Marburg) Arenaviruses (Lassa, Machupo)

What makes a good biological agent?

Characteristics of Biological Agents. a. Characteristics. Intrinsic features of biological agents which influence their potential for use as weapons include: infectivity; virulence; toxicity; pathogenicity; incubation period; transmissibility; lethality; and stability.

What are the 3 biological agents?

Biological agents are widely found in the natural environment and as a result found in many work sectors. They include bacteria, viruses, fungi (including yeasts and moulds) and internal human parasites (endoparasites). The majority of these agents are harmless however some may have potential to cause ill health.

What are the 6 biological agents?

Biological agents that have been identified as posing the greatest threat are variola major (smallpox), Bacillus anthracis (anthrax), Yersinia pestis (plague), Clostridium botulinum toxin (botulism), Francisella tularensis (tularaemia), filoviruses (Ebola hemorrrhagic fever and Marburg hemorrhagic fever), and …

What are the three categories of biological agents?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) breaks biological agents into three categories: Category A, Category B, and Category C.

What are hazardous biological agents?

They include bacteria, viruses, fungi (including yeasts and moulds) and internal human parasites (endoparasites). The majority of these agents are harmless however some may have potential to cause ill health.

Which of the following is an example of a biological weapon?

Among the agents deemed likely candidates for biological weapons use are the toxins ricin, staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), botulinum toxin, and T-2 mycotoxin and the infectious agents responsible for anthrax, brucellosis, cholera, pneumonic plague, tularemia, Q fever, smallpox, glanders, Venezuelan equine …

What is an example of a biological agent?

How many biological agents are there?

How Are Biological Agents Delivered and Detected? Although there are more than 1,200 biological agents that could be used to cause illness or death, relatively few possess the necessary characteristics to make them ideal candidates for biological warfare or terrorism agents.

What is a biological agent in biology?

Overview. Biological agents include bacteria, viruses, fungi, other microorganisms and their associated toxins. They have the ability to adversely affect human health in a variety of ways, ranging from relatively mild, allergic reactions to serious medical conditions—even death. Some organisms, including various types of mold

What are the effects of biological agents on humans?

Effects range from mild allergic reactions to debilitation, disability and even death. Moreover, most biological agents are rather imperceptible and their effects are realized much too late. Biological agents can also affect plants and animals as most are susceptible to the effects.

What is a biological warfare agent?

Biological Warfare agents are microorganisms like virus, bacteria, fungi, protozoa or toxins produced by them, that give rise to diseases in man, animals or plants, when deliberately dispersed in an area [ Table 1 ].

Can biological control agents be added to a disinfested solution?

If biological control agents have to be added again at later stages, the addition into a disinfested solution has the advantage that the number of microorganisms in the disinfested solution is lower, and nutrients derived from dead cells are present.