Biological Agents
Coronavirus. Mild illnesses in humans include some cases of the common cold (which is also caused by other viruses, predominantly rhinoviruses), while more lethal varieties can cause SARS, MERS, and COVID-19.
COVID-19 virus.
- SARS-CoV, the virus that caused severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), which was first identified in 2003
- MERS-CoV, the virus that caused Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), which was first identified in 2012
- SARS-CoV-2, the second strain of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, which was first identified in 2019
Smallpox is a highly contagious disease unique to humans. It is estimated that no more than 20 percent of the population has any immunity from previous vaccination.
Tularemia is also known as "rabbit fever" or "deer fly fever" and is extremely infectious. Relatively few bacteria are required to cause the disease, which is why it is an attractive weapon for use in bioterrorism.
Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (VHFs). Along with smallpox, anthrax, plague, botulism, and tularemia, hemorrhagic fever viruses are among the six agents identified by the CDC as the most likely to be used as biological weapons. Many VHFs can cause severe, life-threatening disease with high fatality rates.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
4-4. Which of the following diseases is unique to humans?
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