Are Pathogens A High Risk To National Security?

A pathogen in the oldest and broadest sense is anything that can produce disease.  We normally think of pathogens in hostile terms—as invaders that attack our bodies. But according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, a pathogen or a parasite, like any other organism, is simply trying to live and procreate.

There are three categories that the Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases puts pathogens into.  Priority pathogens are put into Category A, B, and C.

 

Category A pathogens are those organisms/biological agents that pose the highest risk to national security and public health 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

Category A includes: anthrax, botulism, plague, smallpox, tularemia, Ebola, Marbug, Rift Valley Fever, Lassa Fever, LCM, Junin virus, Machupo virus, and Guanarito virus.

 

Category B pathogens are the second highest priority organisms/biological agents. They:

• Are moderately easy to disseminate
• Result in moderate morbidity rates and low mortality rates
• Require specific enhancements for diagnostic capacity and enhanced disease surveillance

Category B includes: Q fever, bruellosis, Typhus fever, Stahylococcus, Salmonella, Diarrheagenic E. Coli, Cyclospora cayatanensis, Giardia lamblia,Entamoeba histolytica,West Nile Virus, LaCrosse, California encephalitis,Venezuelan equine,encephalitis, Eastern equine encephalitis, Western equine encephalitis, Japanese Encephalitis Virus, Kyasanur, and Forest Virus.

 

Category C pathogens are the third highest priority and include emerging pathogens that could be engineered for mass dissemination in the future because of:

• Availability
• Ease of production and dissemination
• Potential for high morbidity and mortality rates and major health impact

Category C includes: Tickborne encephalitis viruses, Yellow fever, Tuberculosis, including drug-resistant TB, Tickborne encephalitis viruses, Yellow fever, Tuberculosis, including drug-resistant TB, Influenza, Other Rickettsias, Rabies,Prions, Chikungunya virus, and Severe acute respiratory syndrome associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV).

HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C fall under Bloodborne Infectious Diseases with the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Bloodborne pathogens enter the body through blood, body fluids, Amniotic fluid, semen and vaginal fluids.

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