Risk Group 1 (RG1):
agents have the
lowest individual and
community risk and
include agents that
rarely cause
infection in healthy
hosts.
laboratory strains of non-pathogenic E. coli, S. cerevisiae, soil
micro-organisms.
Risk Group 2 (RG2): agents
that may cause disease in
healthy hosts, but are difficult
to transmit, don’t usually
cause serious or
life-threatening illness and are
readily treated or prevented.
pathogenic E. coli, Campylobacter spp, Plasmodium
spp, prions, HIV (infected blood only).
Risk Group 4 (RG4): agents
are those that present
significant individual and
community risks and usually
produce life-threatening
disease, are readily
transmissible and effective
prevention and/or treatment
are not usually available.
Ebola, Hendra and Nipah viruses.
Risk Group 3 (RG3) agents are those that
usually cause serious disease and may
present a serious risk to laboratory
workers. A Risk Group 3 agent may also
present significant community risk if
spread in the environment, but there are
usually effective measures for treatment
and/or prevention.
B. anthracis, hantavirus, yellow
fever, HIV (cultures).