Biological Agent Categories & Descriptions

	Category A Diseases/Agents
	Category B Diseases/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;
• require special action for public health preparedness.

Sources for the FAQs and definitions were the CDC and JAMA Consensus Statement.

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