AChemical, Industrial, & Nuclear Disasters
BBiological Disasters
CAccident-Related Disasters
DWater and Climate Related Disasters
Answer:
B. Biological Disasters
Read Explanation:
Biological disasters are events caused by living organisms or their products (like toxins) that result in widespread harm to human health, animal health, or ecosystems.
Biological Agents: Food poisoning is primarily caused by microorganisms such as bacteria (e.g., Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, Campylobacter), viruses (e.g., Norovirus), parasites, or toxins produced by these organisms (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus toxin, Botulinum toxin).
Mechanism of Harm: These biological agents contaminate food, and when ingested, they cause illness, ranging from mild gastrointestinal upset to severe, life-threatening conditions.
Widespread Impact (Disaster Potential): While individual cases of food poisoning are common, large-scale outbreaks affecting many people (e.g., due to contaminated food served at a large event or distributed through a supply chain) can constitute a disaster, overwhelming healthcare systems and causing significant public health crises. Such outbreaks are often referred to as "foodborne illness outbreaks."
Therefore, because food poisoning involves the spread of harmful biological agents through a common medium (food) leading to illness on a scale that can become a public health emergency, it is correctly classified as a biological disaster.