Course Description and Prerequisites:
Epidemics of infectious diseases have been documented throughout history. The morbidity and mortality of infectious diseases profoundly shaped politics, commerce, and culture. Studies of the epidemiology of infectious diseases include evaluation of the factors leading to infection by an organism, factors affecting the transmission of an organism, and those associated with clinically recognizable disease among those who are infected. Many epidemiologic concepts were originally developed in studies of infectious diseases.
The present course covers application of epidemiologic procedures to the understanding of the occurrence and control of conditions infections, such as STD, HIV/AIDS, SARS, avian flu and other infectious diseases. A prerequisite course in biostatistics and an epidemiology method are mandatory.
Expected Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course, each student should possess the following areas of subject mastery:
- Appraise of theory and application of epidemiologic methods for infectious diseases epidemic.
- Evaluate the global burden and challenges of infectious disease Epidemiology.
- Appraise the factors leading to infection by an organism, factors affecting the transmission of an organism, and those associated with clinically recognizable disease among those who are infected.
- Formulate the framework of control, treatment, and prevention of epidemic of selected infectious diseases, such as: malaria, tuberculosis, SARS, Influenza, HIV/AIDS and STD.
- Evaluate health interventions which are cost-effective for the prevention of infectious disease morbidity and mortality, such as effective sexually transmitted disease (STD) treatment and oral rehydration therapy for diarrhea.
- Appraise the chemotherapy and chemoprophylaxis of infectious diseases, such as malaria and antibiotic prophylaxis for the prevention of post-surgical infections.