Those agents in
Category A are highest-priority because they:
Can be easily disseminated or transmitted person-to-person.
Cause high mortality, with potential for major public health impact.
Might cause public panic and social disruption.
Require special action for public health preparedness.
Examples of Category A agents are shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Examples of Category A agents.Category A Agents |
Smallpox (variola major) |
Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) |
Plague (Yersinia pestis) |
Botulism (Clostridium botulinum toxin) |
Tularemia (Francisella tularensis) |
Ebola hemorrhagic fever |
Marburg hemorrhagic fever |
Lassa fever |
Argentine hemorrhagic fever |