Which amongst the following biological agents carries the highest potential for use as biological weapons for microbial bioterrorism: September 2012

Ans: A i.e. Plague (Yersinia pestis) Bacterial pathogens and their products are potential agents of biological terrorism and biological warfare. These agents can be deployed through simple aerosol delivery systems and thereby cause widespread disease and death. Category A: Category A agents are the highest-priority pathogens. They pose the greatest risk to national security. They include: Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) Botulism (Clostridium botulinum toxin) Plague (Yersinia pestis) Smallpox (Variola major) Tularemia (Francisella tularensis) Viral hemorrhagic fevers Arenaviruses: Lassa, New World (Machupo, Junin, Guanarito, and Sabia) Bunyaviridae: Crimean Congo, Rift Valley Filoviridae: Ebola, Marburg