Explore the science, prevention and control of epidemics in this free online course. In addition to lectures by leading scientists in this field from HKU, this course will feature a supplementary module on COVID-19 and panel discussions with world-leading experts in epidemics.
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This is the third (control of infectious diseases) of the four courses, covers these topics:
- Disease Surveillance
- Non-pharmaceutical intervention (NPI)
- Vaccination (Effectiveness, Trials, Safety, Impact on Populations, Vaccine Economics, Confidence and Hesitancy)
- Panel Discussion on WHO’s Response to the Ebola Outbreak; and Anti-vaccination
“If history is our guide, we can assume that the battle between the intellect and will of the human species and the extraordinary adaptability of microbes will be never-ending.” (1)
Despite all the remarkable technological breakthroughs that we have made over the past few decades, the threat from infectious diseases has significantly accelerated. In this course, we will learn why this is the case by looking at the fundamental scientific principles underlying epidemics and the public health actions behind their prevention and control in the 21st century.
This course is part of the Epidemics-Origins, Spread, Control and Communication Professional Certificate.
What you'll learn
- Emerging Infections and Outbreak Detection
- Syndromic Surveillance
- Serologic Surveillance
- Non-pharmaceutical interventions
- Control of Cholera
- Hygiene and Other Personal Interventions
- Isolation and Quarantine and Contact Tracing
- School Closure
- International Measures Including Travel Restrictions and Entry Screening
- Zoonoses - Market Closure
- How Vaccines Work
- Herd Immunity and Other Indirect Benefit
- How to Measure Vaccine Effect
- Vaccine Trials and Safety
- Measuring Vaccine Impact on Populations
- Vaccine Economics
- Vaccine Confidence and Hesitancy
Syllabus
Week 1: Control (Disease surveillance)
Disease Surveillance Overview
Emerging Infections and Outbreak Detection
Syndromic Surveillance
Serologic Surveillance
Surveillance - Evaluation of Control Measures (Control Studies)
Surveillance - Evaluation of Control Measures (Active and Passive Surveillance)
Surveillance - Evaluation of Control Measures (Vaccine Effectiveness)
Supplementary Module: Harnessing Multinational Data Sources in Global Models to Inform Vaccine Policy
Week 2: Control (Non-pharmaceutical intervention (NPI))
Non-pharmaceutical Interventions Overview and John Snow
Control of Cholera
Hygiene and Other Personal Interventions
Isolation and Quarantine and Contact Tracing
School Closure
International Measures Including Travel Restrictions and Entry Screening
Zoonoses - Market Closure
Week 3: Panel Discussion on WHO’s Response to the Ebola Outbreak
The Stocking Report
Outbreak Alert and Emergency Response
WHO Preparedness Centres
Ebola Vaccine
Health System Infrastructure
Lessons Learned
Communication Strategy
Week 4: Control (Vaccination)
Brief History and Current Issues
How Vaccines Work
Herd Immunity and Other Indirect Benefit
How to Measure Vaccine Effect
Vaccine Trials
Safety
Influenza Vaccines
Measuring Vaccine Impact on Populations
Vaccine Economics
Introducing a New Vaccine
Week 5: Panel Discussion on Anti-vaccination, and Supplementary Module on Next Generation Informatics for Global Health
The State of Vaccine Confidence
Vaccine Confidence and Hesitancy
Trust
Measles Vaccine
Experimental Vaccines: Ebola
Vaccination: a basic health right?
Supplementary Module: Digital Health & Epidemiology
