PHPS40200 Communicable Disease Epidemiology

Academic Year 2023/2024

In this module students are taught the epidemiology of important infectious diseases, including vaccine-preventable disease. Surveillance will be discussed from a national and international perspective; the requirements of countries under international health regulations will be addressed. Major communicable diseases will be covered, including blood-borne viruses, COVID 19, healthcare associated infections, legionella, TB, streptococcal diease and meningococcal disease. Antibiotic resistance will be addressed.

Assessment is by 2 assignments. One during trimester and one at end of trimester. All assessment components must be completed in order to pass the module.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the module students will:
1. have acquired an in-depth knowledge of the epidemiological principles in relation to infectious diseases
2. be able to apply the steps in the investigation of an outbreak of food poisoning to a practical example
3. understand surveillance, the International Health Regulations and notifiable diseases
4. understand the key clinical features, epidemiology and control of major communicable disease
5. be able to describe, implement, monitor and evaluate control measures against infectious diseases
6. understand the important aspects of antibiotic resistance development and prevention
7. be able to apply knowledge to the evaluation of immunisation schedules in different countries

Indicative Module Content:

Communicable disease terms
Management of outbreak of food poisoning
Surveillance (national and international)
Health care associated infection
STIs
Bacterial disease - TB, streptococcal disease, meningococcal disease, legionella
Viral disease - blood borne viruses, influenza, covid19
Immunisation
Group presentations
Antibiotic resistance

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24

Tutorial

4

Field Trip/External Visits

4

Autonomous Student Learning

80

Total

112

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Students will learn through lectures, seminar, tutorial and assignments. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Assignment: In House Assignment Week 9 n/a Standard conversion grade scale 40% Yes

40

Multiple Choice Questionnaire: End of Trimester Online MCQ
Single best answer format
No negative marking
1 hour End of Trimester Exam n/a Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

60


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Group feedback will be provided on the assignment. If a student then requests individual feedback that will be provided.

UCD MPH PROGRAMME: PHPS40200 Communicable Disease Epidemiology: Recommended Reading 2023

Recommended reading and resources for students undertaking the module Communicable Disease Epidemiology are outlined below. Other sources may be recommended throughout the module. All books listed below are available through UCD library. All journal articles are available free through UCD library online.

Books – you can dip in for topics as needed

Communicable Disease Control and Health Protection Handbook
(Online book) Hawker 2012
Veterinary Epidemiology: Principles and Methods
https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/handle/10919/72274

Zoonoses and Communicable Diseases Common to Man and Animals, 3rd edition. The three volumes
https://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2237:2010-zoonoses-communicable-diseases-common-man-animals-3rd-edition-three-volumes&Itemid=1894&lang=es

Essential reading
Reference Reports/Resources
List of notifiable diseases – posted on BrightSpace

Essential to review – familiarise yourselves with key organisations and their functions through their websites
You will find Official Reports and Publications on these also. This list is not considered to be comprehensive. Please go to web sites listed and search for particular topics.

Health Protection Surveillance Centre http://www.hpsc.ie/

Food Safety Authority https://www.fsai.ie/

Institute of Public Health in Ireland www.publichealth.ie

World Health Organisation www.who.int/en/

Centres for Disease Control and Prevention USA www.cdc.gov/

Public Health Scotland (formerly Health Protection Scotland) http://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/pages/home.aspx


Other websites where you will find relevant publications

Public Health Portal of the European Union http://ec.europa.eu/health-eu/index_en.htm

The Cochrane Collaboration http://www.cochrane.org


Selected Journal Articles to read – others will be recommended during course

Chu DK et al. Physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection to prevent person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis, Lancet. 2020 Jun 27;395(10242):1973-1987.

Furin J, Cox H, Pai M. Tuberculosis. Lancet Volume 393, Issue 10181, 20–26 April 2019, Pages 1642-1656
McCloskey B, Dar O, Zumla A, Heymann DL. Emerging infectious diseases and pandemic potential: status quo and reducing risk of global spread. Lancet Infect Dis. 2014 Oct;14(10):1001-10.

Khabbaz RF et al. Challenges of infectious diseases in the USA. Lancet 2015; 384: 53–63
Maartens G, Celum C, Lewin SR. HIV infection: epidemiology, pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention. Lancet. 2014 Jul 19;384(9939):258-71

Porter A, Goldfarb J. Measles: A dangerous vaccine-preventable disease returns. Cleve Clin J Med. 2019 Jun;86(6):393-398. doi: 10.3949/ccjm.86a.19065. PMID: 31204978.
https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.ucd.idm.oclc.org/31204978/

Wall EC, Chan JM, Gil E, Heyderman RS. Acute bacterial meningitis. Curr Opin Neurol. 2021 Jun 1;34(3):386-395. doi: 10.1097/WCO.0000000000000934. PMID: 33767093; PMCID: PMC7610733.
https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.ucd.idm.oclc.org/33767093.

Baharom M, Ahmad N, Hod R, Arsad FS, Tangang F. The Impact of Meteorological Factors on Communicable Disease Incidence and Its Projection: A Systematic Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Oct 22;18(21):11117. doi: 10.3390/ijerph182111117. PMID: 34769638; PMCID: PMC8583681.



Name Role
Professor Séamus Fanning Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Carla Perrotta Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Patrick Wall Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Autumn
     
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 4, 8, 9, 11 Tues 14:00 - 15:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 10 Tues 14:00 - 15:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 12 Tues 14:00 - 15:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 2 Tues 14:00 - 15:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 3, 5, 7 Tues 14:00 - 15:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 6 Tues 14:00 - 15:50
Autumn