Characteristics of Likely Chemical-Bioterrorism Agents

  • Good Infectivity – the capability of entering, surviving in, and multiplying in humans, animals, etc.
  • High Virulence - the ability of an organism to cause disease.
  • High Toxicity - the quality of being poisonous.
  • High Pathogenicity - the ability of an organism to damage the host (human, animal).
  • Short Incubation Period - the time between the moment of inoculation (exposure to the agent) to the development of symptoms of a particular illness.
  • High Transmissibility – the capability of being transmitted (spread) from one person to another.
  • High Lethality- the capability of causing death.
  • High Stability – how long an agent stays active in an environment.
  • Low Effective Dose – the amount of an agent needed to obtain the desired result or intended illness / death.