Staphylococcus Enterotoxin B (SEB) Pulmonary Poisoning

Infectious agent:  Staphylococcus aureus

Description of illness: SEB is one of several harmful substances produced by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. Staphylococcal enterotoxin B is toxic by inhalation and ingestion.Staph toxins could be used as a biological agent either by contamination of food or water or by aerosolization (using pressure to produce a fine mist) and inhalation. Breathing in low doses of staphylococcal enterotoxin B may cause fever, cough, difficulty breathing, headache, and some vomiting and nausea. High doses of the toxin have a much more serious effect.