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 consists of two modules, basic and advanced. This basic module 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 strategy to confront infectious diseases.

Expected learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding
After having passed the course the student should:
understand the dynamic and interaction among agent, host and environment as well as to investigate the transmission of endemic and epidemic infectious diseases,
have gained in-depth knowledge about the risk factors, mode of transmission, and select appropriate measures of prevention and control for most important infectious diseases,

understand the "One Health" approach and its applications,
understand the relationship between climate change and infectious diseases,
be able to discuss the drivers of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases and what strategies for mitigation are,
be able to identify why the antimicrobial resistance is increasing globally and what strategies for mitigation are,
understand the principles of effective communication with public during infectious agent risk and outbreaks,
understand the principles of management and project management within the infectious diseases control programs.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,
use Geographical Information System (GIS) to plan for infectious diseases prevention and control,
develop an effective communication plan with public during infectious disease outbreak.Assessment and approach
After having passed the course, the student should be able to
understand the applications of epidemiology and the "One Health" approach on the prevention and control of infectious diseases of public health concern.

Required Knowledge

Bachelor degree of 180 credits including a minimum of 30 credits within one of the following: biomedicine, medicine, health science, environmental health, economics or political science. English proficiency equivalent to English A from Swedish upper secondary education.

Form of instruction

Teaching structure
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 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 both examination parts must be passed. To be awarded Pass with distinction, it is required that the written exam is awarded pass with distinction.
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

Other regulations

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.