Biological Agents

Biological diseases and/or agents can be used by terrorists when targeting people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have outlined such threats into six categories that are determined by their ease of accessibility and rate of mortality. Many of the biological diseases and agents listed have links to fact sheets that discuss their characteristics.

All links open in a new browser window.

Anthrax

1. Anthrax Fact Sheet
   Texas Department of State Health Services
2. Anthrax Basics
   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
   http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/anthrax/

Botulism

1. Facts About Botulism
   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
   http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/botulism/index.asp
2. What You Need to Know About Botulism
   Texas Department of State Health Services
   http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/preparedness/bt_public.shtm

Plague

1. Plague Information - Centers for Disease Control
   http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/plague/

Rabies

1. Rabies
   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
   National Center for Infectious Diseases
   http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/

Smallpox

1. Smallpox Disease Information
   Centers for Disease Control
   http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/disease/
2. Smallpox Information
   Texas Department of State Health Services
   http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/preparedness/bt_public.shtm

Tularemia

1. Tularemia
   Centers for Disease Control
   http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/tularemia/
2. What you need to know about Tularemia
   Texas Department of State Health Services
   http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/preparedness/bt_public.shtm

Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers

1. Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers
   Centers for Disease Control
   http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/vhf/
2. What you need to know about Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers
   Texas Department of State Health Services
   http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/preparedness/bt_public.shtm