2. • A biological agent is a living organism, or product from a living organism, including, fungi,
bacteria, viruses, and biological toxins. While a number of these biological organisms can
be beneficial to our bodies and the environment, a number of bacteria, biological toxins,
and all viruses cause disease. Disease causing microorganisms are called pathogens.
Unlike chemical warfare agents, biological pathogens can be found in the environment
within natural reservoirs including animals, soil, and water, with a number of high-risk
pathogens considered endemic, ‘a disease that is always present in a certain population
or geographic region’. This means that the presence of certain bacteria or viruses may be
found in the environment forming normal background level for that geographic area. In
addition to natural environmental reservoirs, several infectious diseases are zoonotic,
meaning they can pass from an animal host to humans, often manifesting as a more
severe illness within the human population. Zoonotic diseases are responsible for many
emerging pathogens, with the emergence of novel viruses such as, Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), creating
new outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics leaving the vulnerable human population at
risk of serious illness or death
3. • A biological agent is a living organism, or product from a living organism, including, fungi,
bacteria, viruses, and biological toxins. While a number of these biological organisms can
be beneficial to our bodies and the environment, a number of bacteria, biological toxins,
and all viruses cause disease. Disease causing microorganisms are called pathogens.
Unlike chemical warfare agents, biological pathogens can be found in the environment
within natural reservoirs including animals, soil, and water, with a number of high-risk
pathogens considered endemic, ‘a disease that is always present in a certain population
or geographic region’. This means that the presence of certain bacteria or viruses may be
found in the environment forming normal background level for that geographic area. In
addition to natural environmental reservoirs, several infectious diseases are zoonotic,
meaning they can pass from an animal host to humans, often manifesting as a more
severe illness within the human population. Zoonotic diseases are responsible for many
emerging pathogens, with the emergence of novel viruses such as, Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), creating
new outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics leaving the vulnerable human population at
risk of serious illness or death
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• A biological agent is a living organism, or product from a living organism, including, fungi,
bacteria, viruses, and biological toxins. While a number of these biological organisms can
be beneficial to our bodies and the environment, a number of bacteria, biological toxins,
and all viruses cause disease. Disease causing microorganisms are called pathogens.
Unlike chemical warfare agents, biological pathogens can be found in the environment
within natural reservoirs including animals, soil, and water, with a number of high-risk
pathogens considered endemic, ‘a disease that is always present in a certain population
or geographic region’. This means that the presence of certain bacteria or viruses may be
found in the environment forming normal background level for that geographic area. In
addition to natural environmental reservoirs, several infectious diseases are zoonotic,
meaning they can pass from an animal host to humans, often manifesting as a more
severe illness within the human population. Zoonotic diseases are responsible for many
emerging pathogens, with the emergence of novel viruses such as, Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), creating
new outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics leaving the vulnerable human population at
risk of serious illness or death
