Skip to main contentSkip to Xpert Chatbot

HKUx: Epidemics III

Explore the science, prevention and control of epidemics in this free online course. In addition to lectures by leading scientists in this field from HKU, this course will feature a supplementary module on COVID-19 and panel discussions with world-leading experts in epidemics.

This is the third (control of infectious diseases) of the four courses, covers these topics:

  • Disease Surveillance
  • Non-pharmaceutical intervention (NPI)
  • Vaccination (Effectiveness, Trials, Safety, Impact on Populations, Vaccine Economics, Confidence and Hesitancy)
  • Panel Discussion on WHO’s Response to the Ebola Outbreak; and Anti-vaccination
5 weeks
2–3 hours per week
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
Free
Optional upgrade available

There is one session available:

After a course session ends, it will be archivedOpens in a new tab.
Starts Nov 4
Ends Dec 31
Enroll
Epidemics III

About this course

Skip About this course

“If history is our guide, we can assume that the battle between the intellect and will of the human species and the extraordinary adaptability of microbes will be never-ending.” (1)

Despite all the remarkable technological breakthroughs that we have made over the past few decades, the threat from infectious diseases has significantly accelerated. In this course, we will learn why this is the case by looking at the fundamental scientific principles underlying epidemics and the public health actions behind their prevention and control in the 21st century.

This is the third (control of infectious diseases) of the four courses, covers these topics:

  • Disease Surveillance
  • Non-pharmaceutical intervention (NPI)
  • Vaccination (Effectiveness, Trials, Safety, Impact on Populations, Vaccine Economics, Confidence and Hesitancy)
  • Panel Discussion on WHO’s Response to the Ebola Outbreak; and Anti-vaccination

如果历史是我们的向导，我们可以认为人类的智慧和意志与微生物种惊人的适应性之间的斗争将永远持续下去。”(1)

尽管过去的几十年间我们在科技领域取得了令人瞩目的突破，可是传染病对人类的威胁却显著增加。本课程将通过学习流行病学的基础科学原理以及预防与控制流行病的公共卫生措施，对上述现象予以阐释。

这是四個课程中的第三个（傳染病的控制）, 涵盖以下主题：

  • 疾病监测
  • 非药物干预
  • 疫苗 (效果, 试验, 安全性, 对人群的影响, 疫苗经济学, 信心和犹豫)
  • 專家专题讨论: 世界卫生组织对埃博拉疫情的应对；和反疫苗行动

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1) Fauci AS, Touchette NA, Folkers GK. Emerging Infectious Diseases: a 10-Year Perspective from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Emerg Infect Dis 2005 Apr; 11(4):519-25.

At a glance

  • Institution: HKUx
  • Subject: Medicine
  • Level: Introductory
  • Prerequisites:

    None.

  • Language: English
  • Video Transcripts: English, 中文, 中文
  • Associated programs:
  • Associated skills:Pharmaceuticals, Allergology, Infectious Diseases, Adaptability, Emerging Infectious Disease (EIDs), Ebola, Economics

What you'll learn

Skip What you'll learn
  • Emerging Infections and Outbreak Detection
  • Syndromic Surveillance
  • Serologic Surveillance
  • Non-pharmaceutical interventions
  • Control of Cholera
  • Hygiene and Other Personal Interventions
  • Isolation and Quarantine and Contact Tracing
  • School Closure
  • International Measures Including Travel Restrictions and Entry Screening
  • Zoonoses - Market Closure
  • How Vaccines Work
  • Herd Immunity and Other Indirect Benefit
  • How to Measure Vaccine Effect
  • Vaccine Trials and Safety
  • Measuring Vaccine Impact on Populations
  • Vaccine Economics
  • Vaccine Confidence and Hesitancy
  • 新兴传染病與爆发侦测
  • 症状监测
  • 血清学监测
  • 非药物干预
  • 对霍乱的控制
  • 卫生指施和其他个人干预
  • 隔离指施與联系人追踪
  • 学校停课
  • 国际措施, 包括旅遊限制和入境检查
  • 人畜共患病-市场封闭
  • 疫苗如何发挥作用
  • 群体免疫和其他间接好處
  • 如何评估疫苗效果
  • 疫苗试验和安全性
  • 评估疫苗对人群的影响
  • 疫苗经济学
  • 对疫苗的信心和犹豫

Syllabus

Skip Syllabus

Week 1: Control (Disease surveillance)

  • Disease Surveillance Overview
  • Emerging Infections and Outbreak Detection
  • Syndromic Surveillance
  • Serologic Surveillance
  • Surveillance - Evaluation of Control Measures (Control Studies)
  • Surveillance - Evaluation of Control Measures (Active and Passive Surveillance)
  • Surveillance - Evaluation of Control Measures (Vaccine Effectiveness)
  • Supplementary Module: Harnessing Multinational Data Sources in Global Models to Inform Vaccine Policy

Week 2: Control (Non-pharmaceutical intervention (NPI))

  • Non-pharmaceutical Interventions Overview and John Snow
  • Control of Cholera
  • Hygiene and Other Personal Interventions
  • Isolation and Quarantine and Contact Tracing
  • School Closure
  • International Measures Including Travel Restrictions and Entry Screening
  • Zoonoses - Market Closure

Week 3: Panel Discussion on WHO’s Response to the Ebola Outbreak

  • The Stocking Report
  • Outbreak Alert and Emergency Response
  • WHO Preparedness Centres
  • Ebola Vaccine
  • Health System Infrastructure
  • Lessons Learned
  • Communication Strategy

Week 4: Control (Vaccination)

  • Brief History and Current Issues
  • How Vaccines Work
  • Herd Immunity and Other Indirect Benefit
  • How to Measure Vaccine Effect
  • Vaccine Trials
  • Safety
  • Influenza Vaccines
  • Measuring Vaccine Impact on Populations
  • Vaccine Economics
  • Introducing a New Vaccine

Week 5: Panel Discussion on Anti-vaccination, and Supplementary Module on Next Generation Informatics for Global Health

  • The State of Vaccine Confidence
  • Vaccine Confidence and Hesitancy
  • Trust
  • Measles Vaccine
  • Experimental Vaccines: Ebola
  • Vaccination: a basic health right?
  • Supplementary Module: Digital Health & Epidemiology

This course is part of Epidemics-Origins, Spread, Control and Communication Professional Certificate Program

Learn more 
Expert instruction
4 skill-building courses
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
4 months
2 - 3 hours per week

Ways to take this course

Choose your path when you enroll.

Certificate

Free

Price

$139 USD

-

Access to course materials

Unlimited

Limited

Expires on Dec 9

World-class institutions and universities

edX support

Shareable certificate upon completion

Graded assignments and exams

Read our FAQsin a new tab about frequently asked questions on these tracks.

Interested in this course for your business or team?

Train your employees in the most in-demand topics, with edX For Business.
Purchase nowRequest information