Biodefense

Question 1

define terrorist attack

Answer 1

a violent act or an act dangerous to human life, in violation of the criminal laws of the United States, or of any state, to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives

Question 2

what are the three categories of biological weapons

Answer 2

Category A
Category B
Category C

all in order of decreasing danger

Question 3

why is category A the most dangerous

Answer 3

-Highest Risk to National Security because organism:
􏰐 -Can be transmitted person to person or can be easily disseminated
􏰐 -Causes high mortality with major public health impact
􏰐 -May cause panic and social disruption
􏰐 -Requires special action for public health preparedness

Question 4

examples of category A biological weapons

Answer 4

􏰏Bacillus anthracis - Anthrax
􏰏Clostridium botulinum toxin*
􏰏Yersinia pestis -Plague
􏰏variola major - Smallpox
􏰏Francisiella tularensis - Tularemia
􏰏viral hemorrhagic fevers 􏰐 
Ebola, Marburg, etc

Question 5

why is category B the second highest priority when it comes to biological weapons

Answer 5

The agents are:
􏰐 -Are moderately easy to disseminate
􏰐 -Cause moderate morbidity and low mortality
􏰐 -Require significant enhancements of CDC’s capability and enhanced disease surveillance

Question 6

example of category B biological weapons

Answer 6

Brucella species - Brucellosis
􏰏Clostridium perfringens epsilon toxin* 􏰏 Burkholderia mallei - Glanders
􏰏Coxiella burnetti - Q fever
􏰏Ricinus communis toxin – Ricin*
􏰏Staph aureus - Enterotoxin B

Question 7

why is category C the third highest priority of biological weapons

Answer 7

Includes emerging pathogens that could be engineered for mass dissemination in the future because of
􏰐 -Availability
􏰐 -Ease of Production and Dissemination
􏰐 -Potential for High morbidity, High mortality and major Public Health impact

Question 8

examples of category C biological weapons

Answer 8

􏰐 Hantaviruses
􏰐 Multi - Drug Resistant Tuberculosis
􏰐 Nipah virus
􏰐 Tickbourne Encephalitis virus
􏰐 Tickbourne Hemorrhagic Fever viruses 􏰐 Yellow Fever
􏰐 ( My Suggestions: recombinant Influenza Virus or Haemophilus ducreyi )