Tags
GPH
Admissions requirements
Recommended: Biology.
Description
HIV, malaria and tuberculosis are still one of the main public health challenges that low-income countries face. However, in the meantime, the appearance of new infectious diseases and reappearance of old ones, often in new and drug-resistant forms, highlights the urgent need for in depth understanding of these infectious diseases and potential prevention strategies.
This course will focus on the biological, immunological, epidemiological and ecological aspects of viral, bacterial and protozoan diseases, especially in developing countries.
During the course, the basic notions that describe the mechanisms behind the spread of a disease will be introduced. Also, the relation between the specific characteristics of some infectious diseases and their spread will be exemplified, e.g. for tuberculosis, and HIV.
Variables related to the spread of infectious diseases (incidence, prevalence, incubation time, latent time, period of infectiousness) as well as mode of transmission and vaccination strategies will be discussed during this course.
Course objectives
After this course students will be able to:
Describe the epidemiology and trends of common infectious diseases (i.e. malaria,tuberculosis, HIV) as well as ‘neglected’ infectious diseases (i.e. dengue, soil-transmitted helminth infections)
Explain the infectious disease chain on these infectious diseases (pathogen, reservoir, portal of entrance and exit, transmission routes, and host determinants).
Recognize strategies on how to control infectious diseases by surveillance, outbreak investigation and vaccines.
Provide the major pros and cons of prevention, diagnostic and treatment techniques (incl. vaccination) for infectious diseases, including the global challenge of antibiotics resistance.
Timetable
Once available, timetables will be published here.
Mode of instruction
Lectures
Assessment
TBA
Blackboard
There will be a Blackboard site available for this course. Students will be enrolled at least one week before the start of classes.
Reading list
TBA
Registration
This course is open to LUC students and LUC exchange students. Registration is coordinated by the Curriculum Coordinator. Interested non-LUC students should contact course.administration@luc.leidenuniv.nl.
Contact
Dr. Jessica Kiefte-de Jong, j.c.kiefte@luc.leidenuniv.nl.