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Penn State University - Epidemics - the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases 

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Epidemics - the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases
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Coursera 
Overview

Duration

17 hours

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Total fee

Free

Mode of learning

Online

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Credential

Certificate

Epidemics - the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases
 at 
Coursera 
Highlights

  • Shareable Certificate Earn a Certificate upon completion
  • 100% online Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
  • Flexible deadlines Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
  • Approx. 17 hours to complete
  • English Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Vietnamese, German, Russian, English, Spanish
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Epidemics - the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases
 at 
Coursera 
Course details

More about this course
  • Not so long ago, it was almost guaranteed that you would die of an infectious disease. In fact, had you been born just 150 years ago, your chances of dying of an infectious disease before you've reached the tender age of 5 would have been extremely high.
  • Since then, science has come a long way in understanding infectious diseases - what they are, how they spread, and how they can be prevented. But diseases like HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis, or the flu are still major killers worldwide, and novel emerging diseases are a constant threat to public health. In addition, the bugs are evolving. Antibiotics, our most potent weapon against bacterial infections, are losing their power because the bacteria are becoming resistant. In this course, we'll explore the major themes of infectious diseases dynamics.
  • After we've covered the basics, we'll be looking at the dynamics of the flu, and why we're worried about flu pandemics. We'll be looking at the dynamics of childhood diseases such as measles and whooping cough, which were once considered almost eradicated, but are now making a comeback. We'll explore Malaria, and use it as a case study of the evolution of drug resistance. We'll even be looking at social networks - how diseases can spread from you to your friends to your friends' friends, and so on. And of course we'll be talking about vaccination too. We'll also be talking about how mobile phones, social media and crowdsourcing are revolutionizing disease surveillance, giving rise to a new field of digital epidemiology. And yes, we will be talking about Zombies - not human zombies, but zombie ants whose brains are hijacked by an infectious fungus.
  • We're looking forward to having you join us for an exciting course!
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Epidemics - the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases
 at 
Coursera 
Curriculum

Course Introduction

Course Overview

Course Syllabus

Glossary of Terms

What is an Epidemic?

Micro and Macro Parasites

Infection and Disease

Transmission Types

Reproductive Number

Epidemic Curve

Micro-organisms

Module Overview

Summative: Pathogens

Hosts

Types of Immunity: Innate Immune System

Types of Immunity: Adaptive Immune System

Immune Evasion

Other Determinants of Susceptibility

Social Influences on Immunity

Pathogens and Disease

Detecting an Infectious Disease Outbreak

Module Overview: Hosts

Summative: Hosts

Basics of Ecology

Pathogens and Host Extinction

Force of Infection

Cycles

Seasonality

Flu 1918

Host Diversity, Host Range

Critical Community Size

Pathogen-Microbiome Interactions

The 2014 Ebola Outbreak

Module Overview: Basics of Ecology

Summative: Basics of Ecology

Epidemiology

Roots of Epidemiology

Social Networks

Structure of Networks

Superspreaders

Spatial Hetergeneity

Movement and Modern Transportation

Surveillance and Disclosure

Co-Infection Consequences

Module Overview: Epidemiology

Summative: Epidemiology

Vaccination

Introduction to Control

Discovery of the First Vaccine

Global Impact of Vaccination

How Vaccination Works

Herd Immunity

Social Networks and Targeted Vaccination

Vaccination Refusal

Module Overview: Vaccination

Summative: Vaccination

Control Mechanisms

Eradication and Elimination

Social Challenges to Eradication

Non-pharmaceutical Interventions: Animals

Non-pharmaceutical Interventions: Humans 1

Non-pharmaceutical Interventions: Humans 2

Behavioral Avoidance

Controlling the Vector

Consequences of Control

Vaccination Ethics

New Approaches to an Old Infection

Module Objectives: Control Mechanisms

Summative: Control Mechanisms

Emergence

Disease Emergence

Re-emergence

Evolution General

Antibiotic and Drug Resistance

Management of Resistance

Behavioral And Economic Impact

Evolution of Virulence

Module Overview: Emergence

Summative: Emergence

Global Health

SARS - A Modern Epidemic

Disease Surveillance - Classical

Disease Surveillance - Digital

Culture and Health

Emerging Disease Issues

Crop Diseases and Food Security

Global Pattern of Parasite Biodiversity

Models of Infectious Diseases

Zombies

Module Overview: Global Health

Summative: Global Health

Introductions

What Does It Mean to Be Infectious?

What is the Impact of Prior Infections on Susceptibility to New Pathogens?

What Ended the Plague? What Can We Learn About Pandemics?

Can Behavior Contribute to Susceptibility?

Marilyn Roosinck and What?s Different about Plant Epidemiology?

Can Plants be Vectors of Disease?

What are Other Determinants of Susceptibility?

Can Pathogens Change Host Function?

Immune System Conflict

Eric Harvill and What is the Whole Micro-Biome, Pro-Biotic, Good Bacteria Thing?

Why Can't Our Antibodies Mutate Like Antigens?

How Does Microbiome Exchange Therapy Work?

What are the Best Strategies to Combat Multi-Species Infections?

How Relevant is the Concept of Critical Community Size?

Isabella Catadori and the Translation of Her Lab Work into the Field

Examples of Co-Infections and How They Change Epidemiology of Human Infections

Super-Shedders v. Super Spreaders and the Pareto Principle

The Role of Social Media in Epidemiology and how Information is Disseminated

Dr. Vivek Kapur and What Do We Need to Know about Development and Implementation of New Vaccines?

Why Don't We Have Vaccines for Everything?

Why Don't We Use Targeted Vaccinations?

What Are the Benefits of So-Called Gain-of-Function Experiments?

Dr. Moriah Szpara and How/Why do viruses like Varicella and Herpes Re-activate Themselves?

What are the Challenges to the Eradication of Pathogens and Setting Eradication as a Goal?

How Does Stress Affect Susceptibility and the Expression of Disease?

Has there been a Collective Change in Human Behavior in Response to Sexually Transmitted Diseases?

What can we do to minimize selection for resistance in vectors?

Genetic engineering of vectors? pt.1

Genetic engineering of vectors? pt.2

What is the role of climate change in disease emergence?

What can we learn from antibiotic and vaccine use in agriculture?

Dr. Craig Cameron and What do We Mean by 'Antivirals?'

What is it About Polio?

What About the One Health Concept?

What is the Next Big Thing?

Epidemics - the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases
 at 
Coursera 
Admission Process

    Important Dates

    May 25, 2024
    Course Commencement Date

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    Epidemics - the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases
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    Students Ratings & Reviews

    4.5/5
    Verified Icon2 Ratings
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    Samiksha Pradeep Ingale
    Epidemics - the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases
    Offered by Coursera
    4
    Other: This online course not only have me a glimpse of history of epidemiology but aslo uplifted my knowledge in the area of infections and how they are tackled at population level
    Reviewed on 6 Jun 2021Read More
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    Gvsri divya
    Epidemics - the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases
    Offered by Coursera
    5
    Other: I learnt so many things which are epidemics in our day to day lifeThis course is more benifited to me
    Reviewed on 15 Oct 2020Read More
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    Epidemics - the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases
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