BMS5003 · Infectious diseases and population health

Overview

This unit aims to develop in-depth knowledge of infectious diseases affecting humans including diarrhoea, respiratory infections, Tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other parasitic diseases with a particular focus on resource-poor or low and middle income countries. This unit will consist of a mixture of seminars and small group teaching from specialists in microbiology, infectious diseases, epidemiology and public health. You will evaluate and review relevant literature to explore specific organisms or diseases and present this information via oral presentations and a written end-of-semester report.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment in this unit includes hurdle assessment tasks. Failure of any hurdle assessment task may result in failure of the unit.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. Apply knowledge of some of the most important bacterial, viral and parasitic infectious diseases affecting humans (and animals) to assessment of their importance, impact and treatment and control, particularly in resource poor or low and middle income communities.
2. Apply the concept of 'One Health' in the context of infectious diseases including vector-borne and zoonotic infections.
3. Evaluate emerging and re-emerging pathogens and their implications on human health.
4. Explain the application of recombinant DNA technology, molecular and cell biology and biochemical and biophysical techniques as research (and diagnostic) tools in infectious diseases.
5. Evaluate the epidemiology and control of infectious diseases including chemoprophylaxis, Chemotherapy, drug resistance and vaccinology.
6. Communicate complicated concepts, scientific data and results and current opinions accurately and effectively through oral presentations and reports.

Workload

A total of 12 hours per week including 6 hours of directed learning such as lectures, workshops, and online activities and 6 hours of self-directed study.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.