Category A disease agents

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; and require special action for public health preparedness.

 These agents include: Anthrax Botulism Plague Smallpox Tularemia Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (Ebola)

Category B disease agents

Second highest priority agents include those that,

• are moderately easy to disseminate;
• result in moderate morbidity rates and low mortality rates; and
• Require specific enhancements of CDC's diagnostic capacity and enhanced disease surveillance.

These agents include: Brucellosis, Salmonella, E-Coli, Q fever and Ricin

Category C disease agents

Third highest priority agents include emerging pathogens that could be engineered for mass dissemination in the future because of,

• availability;
• ease of production and dissemination; and
• Potential for high morbidity and mortality rates and major health impact

These agents include many emerging infectious diseases such as Nipah virus and Hantavirus

Flu Pandemic

Flu pandemic is a global flu outbreak that occurs when a new flu virus appears in the human population, causes serious illness, and then spreads easily from person to person worldwide. Flu resources are provided below.