Communicable Disease Control with Genomics

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Examine ethical frameworks to inform practice of communicable disease control, particularly in respect to vulnerable populations.
• Explain the balance between population and individual perspectives when practicing communicable disease control
• Evaluate policies and programmes used in the prevention and control of selected communicable disease of public health importance

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Epidemiological methods to investigate and manage outbreaks.
• Communicable disease epidemiology, with strategies for prevention and control leading to improvements in public health
• The principles of surveillance, the characteristics of different surveillance systems, their strengths and weaknesses and application to disease control.
• The major methods for transmission of communicable disease.
• How genomics can be used to identify, track and help manage communicable disease.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Manage your own learning and work effectively to deadlines.
• Critically discuss and evaluate information
• Effectively communicate epidemiological concepts including risk in a variety of ways to different audiences

• Basic concepts in infectious disease epidemiology.
• Natural history, clinical presentation, methods of diagnosis and control of infections of national and international Public Health importance.
• Use of surveillance systems nationally and internationally to monitor disease activity.
• The design, evaluation, and management of immunisation programmes.
• The steps in outbreak investigation including the use of relevant epidemiological methods and organisation of infection control.

* Basic concepts of infectious disease genomics for communicable disease control

• International aspects of communicable disease control including International Health Regulations.
• Ethical aspects of communicable disease control.

Teaching and learning methods

A variety of methods will be used including lectures, problem-based learning sessions, group work, practical exercises, guided reading, group study and individual study. Some of the lectures and participatory sessions will be facilitated by clinicians and scientists from UKHSA, NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre and University of Southampton. Delivery will face-to-face. In the event this is not possible delivery will be through MS Teams and BB collaborate.

Resources & Reading list

General Resources

Learning Resources. Up to date resources covering domestic and international aspects, where appropriate, will be provided for individual sessions on Blackboard. Students are not expected to read all texts

Internet Resources

Public Health England.

Textbooks

Hawker J, Begg N, Blair I, Reintjes R, Weinberg J, Ekdahl K (2012). Communicable disease control and health protection handbook. John Wiley and Sons.

Noah N. (2006). Controlling communicable disease. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Assessment strategy

A formative multiple choice question assessment will be used mid-semester. For the summative assessments there will be two components i) short answer questions on the underlying principles of communicable disease control and ii) a written assignment that will focus on the burden, surveillance and prevention strategies of a specific communicable disease.

The pass mark for this module is 50%; if you have failed the module, the Board of Examiners may offer you the opportunity to submit work at the next referral (re-sit) opportunity.

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External