High-Threat Biological Agents: Characteristics, Effects, and Policy Implications

Publication Date: October 2003

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

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The anthrax mailings in 2001, which culminated in 5 deaths, 22 infections, and contamination of both postal and congressional buildings, intensified concerns about terrorist use of biological agents. This event increased Congressional interest in actions to limit the vulnerability of the United States to such attacks.

High-threat biological agents, defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as Category A pathogens, are considered relatively easy to disseminate, have high mortality, and have the potential for major public health impacts. High-threat biological agents cause different symptoms in their victims, depending on the pathogen. Since the nature of these agents differs, no single treatment can be given in the case of a biological attack. As a result, treatment of the victims of a biological attack, especially one which is covert, may be difficult. The identification process for many pathogens may be complicated by their incubation period, and the lack of distinct symptoms early in the disease's progress. The difficulties in treating the various high-threat agents may place strain on the resources of the medical system, especially in the case of mass casualties.

Protection from biological agents is an area of active research and development. The range of protection and detection equipment available to first responders has led to questions regarding equipment standardization and state and local preparedness. Development and distribution of vaccines continues to be a contentious issue. Attempts to detect biological releases using sensor technologies, or through analyzing public health data, continue to be implemented, but these technologies are in relatively early stages of development.

It is unclear whether terrorist groups are capable of effectively using biological agents as weapons of mass destruction, but the relatively small amounts of pathogen that may be needed to execute a significant attack is a source of concern. Some suggest that terrorist interest in biological agents is increasing. However, others assert that technical difficulties would make mass casualty attacks unlikely.

Current policies seek to reduce the proliferation of biological weapons by relying on both domestic and international controls, to increase the number of countermeasures available against such pathogens through research and development activities, to improve the nation's ability to detect pathogen releases, and to increase the ability of hospitals and care providers to treat mass casualties.

Policymakers may be called upon to further address potential biological terrorism vulnerabilities, including overseeing the use of atmospheric monitoring equipment for pathogen detection; the direction of continued research and development into biological agent detectors; review of further research into protective equipment, prophylaxis and treatment against high-threat pathogens; and assessment of first responder emergency preparedness. This report will be updated as events warrant.