Objectives:
To introduce the epidemiological aspects of infectious diseases of Public Health importance for adapting effective control and prevention strategies. This unit will strengthen the knowledge base of students in conducting Epidemic and other epidemiologic investigation related to communicable diseases. On completion of this unit, the student should be able to:
- understand the basic principles and terminology of infectious disease epidemiology
- understand the epidemiological aspects of infectious and other communicable diseases of Public Health Importance in Saudi Arabia
- identify and adapt measures/strategies for prevention and control of these diseases
- evaluate immunization programs
Conceptual Outline:
- Terms used in infectious disease epidemiology
- Principles and methods of disease transmission, control and prevention
- Agent factors, mechanism of transmission, incubation period, host/reservoir, periods of communicability, characteristics of asymptomatic infections, interplay of environment and host in disease transmission for the communicable diseases of
- Public Health importance in Saudi Arabia and GCC.
- Currently acceptable methods of control and prevention for each disease discussed
- Current status of infectious and communicable disease control programs of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Immunization programs planning, implementation and evaluation
Teaching Strategy:
- The study strategy will consist of lectures and visits to offices of the concerned health programs. The teaching will be shared by external guest speakers, where appropriate, to acquaint the residents with the current status of disease and its control program in the country.
Course Assessment:
The course will contribute 200 marks to the final evaluation. Assessment will be based on
- one written MCQ papers i.e. Paper II of 1st term examination 70% (140 marks)
- one literature review assignment, on a designated topic in communicable disease epidemiology 30% (60 marks)