Question:medium
Which of the following is a bioterrorism Category A agent?
Which of the following is a bioterrorism Category A agent?
Show Hint
Anthrax, plague and smallpox are the high-priority Category A agents.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
- Q fever
- Typhus fever
- Brucella
- Anthrax
Show Solution
The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Recall the CDC bioterrorism tiers, where Category A is reserved for the most dangerous, readily weaponised, high-mortality organisms.
Step 2: Among the choices, only anthrax meets the Category A criteria; it is highly transmissible as spores, has high lethality in the inhalational form, and demands special preparedness.
Step 3: Q fever (Coxiella), epidemic typhus (Rickettsia) and brucellosis are grouped under Category B, a tier of moderately transmissible agents with lower fatality rates, so they are excluded.
Step 4: The Category A agent in this list is anthrax.
\[\boxed{\text{Anthrax}}\]
Step 2: Among the choices, only anthrax meets the Category A criteria; it is highly transmissible as spores, has high lethality in the inhalational form, and demands special preparedness.
Step 3: Q fever (Coxiella), epidemic typhus (Rickettsia) and brucellosis are grouped under Category B, a tier of moderately transmissible agents with lower fatality rates, so they are excluded.
Step 4: The Category A agent in this list is anthrax.
\[\boxed{\text{Anthrax}}\]
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