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Volume 8, Number 2—February 2002

Conference Summary

Public Health Assessment of Potential Biological Terrorism Agents

Lisa D. RotzComments to Author , Ali S. Khan, Scott R. Lillibridge, Stephen M. Ostroff, and James M. Hughes
Author affiliations: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA;

Main Article

Table 2

Criteria and weightinga used to evaluate potential biological threat agents

Disease Public health impact Dissemination
potential Public
perception Special preparation Category
Disease Death P-Db P - Pc
Smallpox + ++ + +++ +++ +++ A
Anthrax ++ +++ +++ 0 +++ +++ A
Plagued ++ +++ ++ ++ ++ +++ A
Botulism ++ +++ ++ 0 ++ +++ A
Tularemia ++ ++ ++ 0 + +++ A
VHFe ++ +++ + + +++ ++ A
VEf ++ + + 0 ++ ++ B
Q Fever + + ++ 0 + ++ B
Brucellosis + + ++ 0 + ++ B
Glanders ++ +++ ++ 0 0 ++ B
Melioidosis + + ++ 0 0 ++ B
Psittacosis + + ++ 0 0 + B
Ricin toxin ++ ++ ++ 0 0 ++ B
Typhus + + ++ 0 0 + B
Cholerag + + ++ +/- +++ + B
Shigellosisg + + ++ + + + B

aAgents were ranked from highest threat (+++) to lowest (0).
bPotential for production and dissemination in quantities that would affect a large population, based on availability, BSL requirements, most effective route of infection, and environmental stability.
cPerson-to-person transmissibility.
dPneumonic plague.
eViral hemorrhagic fevers due to Filoviruses (Ebola, Marburg) or Arenaviruses (e.g., Lassa, Machupo).
fViral encephalitis.
gExamples of food- and waterborne diseases.

Main Article

Footnote: Participants are listed in Acknowledgments.

Page created: July 14, 2010
Page updated: July 14, 2010
Page reviewed: July 14, 2010
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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