Infectious Disease Epidemiology and One Health Response, 7.5 Credits

Contents

This course is interdisciplinary and will bridge science from epidemiology, medicine, biology, public health, environmental science, social science, economy, geography and management. The course contains principles of infectious diseases epidemiology which allow the participants to understand mode of transmission, risk factors and epidemiologic study designs that are used to guide prevention and control of infectious diseases. The course will discuss surveillance system and outbreak investigation and response for infectious diseases. Notably, the course will emphasize the "One Health" paradigm, an evolving approach to tackle health as relationship between, human, animal and environment and now is using globally as one of the best strategies to confront infectious diseases.

Expected learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding
After having passed the course the student should be able to:

• describe the dynamics and interactions between agent, host and environment as well as investigate the transmission of endemic and epidemic infectious diseases,
• account for gained in-depth knowledge about the risk factors, mode of transmission, and selection of appropriate measures of prevention and control for most important infectious diseases,
• describe the "One Health" approach and its applications,
• describe the relationship between climate change and infectious diseases,
• be able to discuss the drivers of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases and existing mitigation strategies,
• be able to identify why the antimicrobial resistance is increasing globally and existing mitigation strategies,
• describe the principles of effective communication with the public during risk for infectious agent spread and outbreaks,
• describe hospital acquired infection and its infection control programs,
• be able to discuss population mobility and infectious diseases.

Skills and abilities
After having passed the course the student should be able to:

• select and design the appropriate epidemiologic study to study, prevent and control infectious diseases,
• investigate and respond to outbreaks considering the context of scarce resources,
• develop strategies to confront emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance,
• develop an effective communication plan with the public during infectious disease outbreak,
• design a questionnaire to collect data for an infectious disease epidemiologic study, 
• select sampling technique to collect data for an infectious disease epidemiologic study. 

Assessment and approach
After having passed the course, the student should be able to:

• describe the applications of an epidemiology and "One Health" approach on the prevention and control of infectious diseases of public health concern. 

Required Knowledge

120 ECTS as part of a bachelor's degree including a minimum of 30 ECTS within one of the following: biomedicine, medicine, economics, public health science, biology, environmental health, environmental science, science-, engineering- and environmental studies, veterinary medicine or political science. English for basic as eligibility for higher education.

Form of instruction

The course will be taught through a variety of flexible teaching methods which allow students to gain deep understanding, these may include lectures, seminars, case studies, group discussion, scientific papers reading, computer lab, site visit, scenarios and film show. Attendance at calls and seminars is mandatory. The course is given in English.

Examination modes

The exam is done in two parts, one is the continuous assessment during the course in terms of assignments and seminars. The second, is an individual written exam at the end of the course. Only grades of Fail (U) and Pass (G) will be awarded for the assignment and seminar. The written exam will be awarded the following grades: Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG). The whole course is graded Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG). In order to be awarded Pass for the entire course, it is required that the student has passed (G) the written exam, the assignments and the seminars. To be awarded Pass with distinction, it is required that the written exam is awarded pass with distinction, and passed the other parts of exams. 

If there are special reasons, the examiner has the right to decide whether another form of examination can be used. A student that have failed the course twice can request a new examiner through the prefect at the Department of Clinical Microbiology. For each course, one regular and two re-exams are arranged. The number of opportunities is limited to three/academic years. After three exams, the student is advised to retake the course when a study position at the course is available. 

Deviations from the syllabus' exam form can be made for a student who has a decision on pedagogical support due to disability. Individual adaption of the exam form must be considered based on the student's need. The form of exam is adapted within the framework of the syllabus expected study results. At the request from the student, the course coordinator should, in consultation with the examiner, promptly decide an adapted form of exam. The decision must then be notified to the student.

Other regulations

Students have the right to be tested if previous education or equivalent knowledge and skills acquired in professional activities can be credited for corresponding education at Umeå University. Application for credit transfer is sent to Studentcentrum/Examina. More information on credit transfer is available at Umeå University's student web, and in the Higher Education Ordinance (Chapter 6). A refusal to apply for credit can be appealed (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 12) to the Higher Education Appeals Board. This applies to both if the whole-, or parts of the application for credit transfer are rejected.
 
In the event the syllabus expires or undergoes major changes, students are guaranteed at least three examinations (including the regular examination opportunity) according to the regulations in the syllabus that the student was originally registered for during a period of maximum of two years from the time the previous syllabus expired.