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Biological Agents There are many different biological diseases/agents. Here you will find information on: ANTHRAX BOTULISM PLAGUE SMALLPOX OTHER BIOLOGICAL AGENTS CATEGORY A,B,C DESCRIPTIONS Facts about Anthrax Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax most commonly occurs in hoofed mammals and can also infect humans. Symptoms of disease vary depending on how the disease was contracted, but usually occur within 7 days after exposure. The serious forms of human anthrax are inhalation anthrax, cutaneous anthrax, and intestinal anthrax. Initial symptoms of inhalation anthrax infection may resemble a common cold. After several days, the symptoms may progress to severe breathing problems and shock. Inhalation anthrax is often fatal. The intestinal disease form of anthrax may follow the consumption of contaminated food and is characterized by an acute inflammation of the intestinal tract. Initial signs of nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, and fever are followed by abdominal pain, vomiting of blood, and severe diarrhea. Direct person-to-person spread of anthrax is extremely unlikely, if it occurs at all. Therefore, there is no need to immunize or treat contacts of persons ill with anthrax, such as household contacts, friends, or coworkers, unless they also were also exposed to the same source of infection. In persons exposed to anthrax, infection can be prevented with antibiotic treatment. Early antibiotic treatment of anthrax is essential-delay lessens chances for survival. Anthrax usually is susceptible to penicillin, doxycycline, and fluoroquinolones. An anthrax vaccine also can prevent infection. Vaccination against anthrax is not recommended for the general public to prevent disease and is not available. (http://www.bt.cdc.gov/documentsapp/FactSheet/Anthrax/about.asp) CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON ANTHRAX Facts about Botulism Botulism is a muscle-paralyzing disease caused by a toxin made by a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum. There are three main kinds of botulism: Foodborne botulism occurs when a person ingests pre-formed toxin that leads to illness within a few hours to days. Foodborne botulism is a public health emergency because the contaminated food may still be available to other persons besides the patient. Infant botulism occurs in a small number of susceptible infants each year who harbor C. botulinum in their intestinal tract. Wound botulism occurs when wounds are infected with C. botulinum that secretes the toxin. With foodborne botulism, symptoms begin within 6 hours to 2 weeks (most commonly between 12 and 36 hours) after eating toxin-containing food. Symptoms of botulism include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, muscle weakness that always descends through the body: first shoulders are affected, then upper arms, lower arms, thighs, calves, etc. Paralysis of breathing muscles can cause a person to stop breathing and die, unless assistance with breathing (mechanical ventilation) is provided. Botulism is not spread from one person to another. Foodborne botulism can occur in all age groups. A supply of antitoxin against botulism is maintained by CDC. The antitoxin is effective in reducing the severity of symptoms if administered early in the course of the disease. Most patients eventually recover after weeks to months of supportive care. (http://www.bt.cdc.gov/documentsapp/FactSheet/Botulism/about.asp) CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON BOTULISM Facts about Pneumonic Plague Plague is an infectious disease that affects animals and humans. It is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. This bacterium is found in rodents and their fleas and occurs in many areas of the world, including the United States. Y. pestis is easily destroyed by sunlight and drying. Even so, when released into air, the bacterium will survive for up to one hour, although this could vary depending on conditions. Pneumonic plague is one of several forms of plague. Depending on circumstances, these forms may occur separately or in combination: Pneumonic plague occurs when Y. pestis infects the lungs. This type of plague can spread from person to person through the air. Transmission can take place if someone breathes in aerosolized bacteria, which could happen in a bioterrorist attack. Pneumonic plague is also spread by breathing in Y. pestis suspended in respiratory droplets from a person (or animal) with pneumonic plague. Becoming infected in this way usually requires direct and close contact with the ill person or animal. Pneumonic plague may also occur if a person with bubonic or septicemic plague is untreated and the bacteria spread to the lungs. Bubonic plague is the most common form of plague. This occurs when an infected flea bites a person or when materials contaminated with Y. pestis enter through a break in a person's skin. Patients develop swollen, tender lymph glands (called buboes) and fever, headache, chills, and weakness. Bubonic plague does not spread from person to person. Septicemic plague occurs when plague bacteria multiply in the blood. It can be a complication of pneumonic or bubonic plague or it can occur by itself. When it occurs alone, it is caused in the same ways as bubonic plague; however, buboes do not develop. Patients have fever, chills, prostration, abdominal pain, shock, and bleeding into skin and other organs. Septicemic plague does not spread from person to person. Symptoms and Treatment With pneumonic plague, the first signs of illness are fever, headache, weakness, and rapidly developing pneumonia with shortness of breath, chest pain, cough, and sometimes bloody or watery sputum. The pneumonia progresses for 2 to 4 days and may cause respiratory failure and shock. Without early treatment, patients may die. Early treatment of pneumonic plague is essential. To reduce the chance of death, antibiotics must be given within 24 hours of first symptoms. Streptomycin, gentamicin, the tetracyclines, and chloramphenicol are all effective against pneumonic plague. Antibiotic treatment for 7 days will protect people who have had direct, close contact with infected patients. Wearing a close-fitting surgical mask also protects against infection. A plague vaccine is not currently available for use in the United States. (http://www.bt.cdc.gov/documentsapp/FactSheet/Plague/About.asp) CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON PLAGUE SMALLPOX Smallpox is a serious, contagious, and sometimes fatal infectious disease. There is no specific treatment for smallpox disease, and the only prevention is vaccination. The name smallpox is derived from the Latin word for "spotted" and refers to the raised bumps that appear on the face and body of an infected person. President Announces Smallpox Vaccination Program On December 13, 2002, the President announced a plan to better protect the American people against the threat of smallpox attack by hostile groups or governments. Read more about the Vaccination Program >> Smallpox Overview Smallpox is a serious, contagious, and sometimes fatal infectious disease. There is no specific treatment for smallpox disease, and the only prevention is vaccination. Smallpox outbreaks have occurred from time to time for thousands of years, but the disease is now eradicated after a successful worldwide vaccination program. The last case of smallpox in the United States was in 1949. The last naturally occurring case in the world was in Somalia in 1977. Read more of the "Smallpox Overview" >> Smallpox Vaccine Overview The smallpox vaccine helps the body develop immunity to smallpox. Currently, the United States has a big enough stockpile of smallpox vaccine to vaccinate everyone who might need it in the event of an emergency. Production of new vaccine is underway. Read more of the "Vaccine Overview" >> People Who Should NOT Get the Smallpox Vaccine (Contraindications) Because of health risks, the vaccine is not recommended for everyone. People who should not be vaccinated include pregnant women, people with immune systems problems (due to diseases like AIDS or treatments like chemotherapy), people with certain skin conditions, and people living with someone less than a year old. Find out who should not be vaccinated >> Live Virus Vaccines and Vaccinia The vaccinia virus is the "live virus" used in the smallpox vaccine. It is a "pox"-type virus related to smallpox. When given to humans as a vaccine, it helps the body to develop immunity to smallpox. The smallpox vaccine does not contain the smallpox virus and it cannot cause smallpox. Read more about live virus vaccines and vaccinia >> Reactions after Smallpox Vaccination (Side Effects) For most people, the smallpox vaccine is safe and effective. Most people experience normal, typically mild reactions to the vaccine, which indicate that it is beginning to work. Some people may experience reactions that may require medical attention. Find out about side effects of smallpox vaccination >> Questions and Answers How serious is the smallpox threat? How is smallpox spread? How long does a smallpox vaccination last? Is it possible for people to get smallpox from the vaccination? CDC answers common questions such as these. Learn answers to frequently asked questions >> Caring for the Smallpox Vaccination Site Care must be taken after receiving the vaccination. A scab will form in the spot where the vaccination was given. This scab should be left alone so that the vaccinia virus in the vaccine doesn't spread to other parts of the body. Find out more about caring for the vaccination site >> Someone You Are Close to May Get the Vaccine If someone you have close, physical contact with (your spouse, partner or other member of your household) is considering getting the smallpox vaccine, there are some things you should know. Find out what to do if a close contact may get vaccinated >> CDC's Smallpox Preparation and Response Activities CDC is working with others to protect the American public in case smallpox is used as a bioterrorism weapon. These efforts include preparing health workers and developing plans for responding to outbreaks. Find out what CDC is doing about smallpox >> Additional Resources Smallpox Vaccination: An Important Decision Frequently Asked Questions (Provided by the White House) Smallpox Vaccination: In-Depth Information and Resources (http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/basics/index.asp) CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON SMALLPOX. Other Biological Agents Tularemia Tularemia is an infectious disease caused by a hardy bacterium, Francisella tularensis, found in animals (especially rodents, rabbits, and hares). People can get tularemia many different ways, such as through the bite of an infected insect or other arthropod (usually a tick or deerfly), handling infected animal carcasses, eating or drinking contaminated food or water, or breathing in F. tularensis. Symptoms of tularemia could include sudden fever, chills, headaches, muscle aches, joint pain, dry cough, progressive weakness, and pneumonia. Persons with pneumonia can develop chest pain and bloody spit and can have trouble breathing or can sometimes stop breathing. Other symptoms of tularemia depend on how a person was exposed to the tularemia bacteria. These symptoms can include ulcers on the skin or mouth, swollen and painful lymph glands, swollen and painful eyes, and a sore throat. Symptoms usually appear 3 to 5 days after exposure to the bacteria, but can take as long as 14 days. Tularemia is not known to be spread from person to person, so people who have tularemia do not need to be isolated. People who have been exposed to F. tularensis should be treated as soon as possible. The disease can be fatal if it is not treated with the appropriate antibiotics. A vaccine for tularemia is under review by the Food and Drug Administration and is not currently available in the United States. (http://www.bt.cdc.gov/documentsapp/FactSheet/Tularemia/about.asp) Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) refer to a group of illnesses that are caused by several distinct families of viruses. In general, the term "viral hemorrhagic fever" is used to describe a severe multisystem syndrome (multisystem in that multiple organ systems in the body are affected). Characteristically, the overall vascular system is damaged, and the body's ability to regulate itself is impaired. These symptoms are often accompanied by hemorrhage (bleeding); however, the bleeding is itself rarely life-threatening. While some types of hemorrhagic fever viruses can cause relatively mild illnesses, many of these viruses cause severe, life-threatening disease. (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages/vhf.htm) CATEGORY DESCRIPTION OF BIOLOGICAL AGENTS Category A 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; and require special action for public health preparedness. Category B Diseases/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. Category C Diseases/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. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/Agent/agentlist.asp#categorydescriptions Copyright 1997-2003 Public Health Department, Santa Barbara County. All Rights Reserved. Page last updated April 8, 2003 . Click HERE to contact the Bioterrorism Unit. For technical support regarding this site, click HERE.