92591 Communicable Disease Prevention and Control

Description

Communicable diseases are a major contributor to the global burden of disease posing a significant public health challenge. The expansion of the human-animal interface coupled with the speed and scale of national and international travel present an ever-changing risk of emerging and re-emerging communicable diseases. With the last three decades seeing a significant increase in outbreaks, the need for better understanding transmission dynamics and management of communicable diseases is timely and relevant. This subject provides students underpinning knowledge, principles and skills in communicable diseases prevention and control.

Students gain an understanding of communicable diseases epidemiology, and its relationship to communicable disease prevention and management. The contribution and application of surveillance and other public health strategies on communicable diseases control are elaborated. Using case studies in Australia and low- and middle-income countries, students gain deeper insights on factors that have contributed to successes on public health action towards communicable diseases control, challenges and opportunities for better addressing these. The need for integrating a multifaceted and a coordinated approach that goes beyond a biomedical model including building coalitions, policy advocacy, cooperation between different sectors and dissemination of health information are discussed.

Typical availability

Spring