Question:medium
Which is the most important and potential agent that can be used in bioterrorism?
Which is the most important and potential agent that can be used in bioterrorism?
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The most contagious agent against a now-unvaccinated, non-immune population is the answer.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
- Yersinia pestis
- Small pox (Variola virus)
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- Clostridium botulinum
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The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
The task is to identify the single most feared biological weapon among the four agents. Public health agencies rank bioterror organisms into categories, with Category A holding those that combine easy spread, severe illness, high death rates and major potential for social disruption. Plague bacillus, botulinum toxin producer and the smallpox virus all sit in this top tier, while the tuberculosis bacillus does not feature as a priority bioweapon. To choose between the Category A candidates, the deciding factors are transmissibility and population susceptibility. Smallpox stands apart because it passes directly from person to person, the world stopped vaccinating after eradication so almost everyone is now susceptible, and its case fatality is high. These features give it the greatest epidemic and panic potential of any agent on the list, which is why it is consistently named the most dangerous potential bioterrorism agent. \[\boxed{\text{Small pox}}\]
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