Epidemics - the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Introduction

Welcome to Epidemics: the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases. This course will teach you about the variety of parasitic organisms that infect humans, animals, and plants, how these parasites spread through populations, and the various methods that we employ to control them.

Pathogens

In the first module, you will learn about the organisms that can infect us and make us sick: pathogens. We will first take a look at the various types of pathogens that exist, and then learn about what it means to be infectious, and what it means to cause disease. After that, we will cover the various methods by which pathogens can transmit from one person to the next, thereby causing an epidemic. You will learn about the most important number in all of epidemiology, R0, and why this number is so important. Finally, we will learn that microorganisms are not always harmful, but can be beneficial to us as well.

Hosts

The second module of the course covers host factors that determine the outcome of infection. We will first focus on host immunity and present both the general immune capabilities—the innate immune response—that are encoded in our genes and that provide the initial response to infection and the adaptive immune response, which arises from highly specialized cells that protect against a specific pathogen. You will then learn about the ways that pathogens circumvent these two types of immunity and consider other factors that can contribute to an individual becoming infected or diseased—including genetic factors, other microbes, and how social and emotional factors influence immunity. We will then consider how infection with a microorganism causes disease and how public health officials determine whether a disease outbreak is caused by an infectious organism.

Basics of Ecology

The third module of the course covers ecological factors that influence the dynamic patterns of infectious disease. We will discuss the conditions under which a pathogen can drive its host to extinction. We will look at how the demography of the host may allow the pathogen to persist in some populations but not others. We will talk about how host and pathogen characteristics interact to shape different temporal patterns of disease incidence at the population level and discuss the ecological consequences of infecting more than one host species.

Epidemiology

Where humans live and how they are connected to each other, have strong effects on how infectious diseases can spread. In this module, you will learn about some of the related key concepts of epidemiology. After looking at some fascinating history, we’ll learn about social networks as the ultimate “road map” on which diseases can travel and we’ll talk about how the structure of the network can influence disease dynamics. After that, we’ll cover three topics that all affect infectious disease epidemiology in dramatic ways: human transport systems, population density and so-called superspreaders - individuals who can spread a disease to dozens or even hundreds of other individuals. We’ll close by identifying what information is required for disease surveillance.

Vaccination

In module 5 of the course, you will learn about vaccination, one of the most common approaches to the prevention of epidemics. We'll first put vaccination in the context of the many types of public health interventions that that can be used to prevent or treat disease. After that you will learn about the development of the first vaccine, how vaccines work to prevent infection, and the impact that vaccination has had on the prevention of disease worldwide. After that, you will learn about how vaccination can provide protection to everyone, even the unvaccinated, in the population through "herd immunity" and how we can use the structure of social networks within populations to more efficiently achieve this herd protection. Finally we'll learn about how individuals choices about whether or not to get vaccinated can lead to impacts across the whole of the population.

Control Mechanisms

In module 6 of the course, you will learn about mechanisms involved in controlling epidemics. In these lectures, we will discuss what control mechanisms are trying to do, such as breaking the chain of transmission, and many ways by which animals and humans attempt to achieve control. These means include pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical interventions, appearing at individual or population levels. We will describe examples of great successes in eradication, and the reasons why control efforts fail.

Emergence

In module 7 of the course, we’ll look at so-called emerging infectious diseases. These are diseases that are causing new problems. They include infectious agents that are new to humanity, but also infectious agents that were once controlled and are now returning, particularly those that are evolving around formerly very effective public health tools like drugs and vaccines. This means much of the week involves a discussion of evolution. We will look at these emerging diseases and ask, where do they come from and what can be done about them? You will learn about new ideas for managing evolution, and some of the societal challenges involved. We will also look at the related question of how some diseases evolve to be nicer or nastier to their hosts.

Global Health

In this final module we explore the global context of epidemics. The world is rapidly changing with the global population increasing and the speed of travel and extent of globalization piling on the pressure of infectious diseases. In this week we set out first to explore a textbook example of disease shaped by the conditions presented by modern living: the disease SARS. We will see how high density living in cities coupled with links to wildlife diseases through markets can create a pandemic. We then explore traditional methods of disease surveillance and then more recent ones afforded to us by the web and networks made possible through google, twitter and other social media. Important to this global view is human behavior, our evolving culture and health. We will also consider emerging disease and the global pattern of diseases across our recent history and how from our earliest beginnings of global travellers we have affected the spread of diseases. Finally, we discuss disease of our food plants and how models of disease spread are developed to promote better global health. As a postscript to the course we ask the questions, so beloved of modern media, could we become zombies?

Ask Us Anything Videos

The videos accessible in this module are responses to questions that have been posed in previous sessions of this course. We invite you to look around here as an additional resource to answer questions you might have yourself or explore topics that pique your interest.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Pertinent to individuals hoping to gain a theoretical understanding of the dynamics of infectious diseases

Suits learners interested in the study of disease spread and transmission

Appropriate for those with an aptitude for epidemiology and infectious disease research

Introduces learners to concepts of digital epidemiology and disease surveillance

Teaches the implications of infectious diseases in global health contexts

Requires no prior knowledge of infectious disease epidemiology

Reviews summary

Informative course on epidemics

Learners say this course provides engaging insights into epidemics and infectious diseases, thanks to its knowledgeable instructors and well-structured content. The course covers the basics of epidemiology and disease dynamics, with a focus on the social, biological, and behavioral factors that influence the spread of infectious diseases. Learners appreciate the use of real-world examples and animations to illustrate concepts.

Animations, visualizations, and examples make the learning process more engaging.

"I really enjoyed this course! For someone who is on the outside and wants a better understanding of how disease work in a fun cool way that is not over your head, this is the course!"

"Really excellent course, the animations and narrative style really made the topics engaging."

Course material aligns well with current events and issues, especially in light of recent pandemics.

"I took this course in Dec 2020 with the ability to compare how what we knew, learned and efforts to predict and control COVID-19 fit nicely with the modules of the course."

"This was a fantastic course. Especially given the current situation we are facing the world over."

Concepts are broken down into easy-to-understand terms.

"The concepts were explained in a simple manner with focus on arousing curiosity and interest in the mind of the learners."

"The course is very well constructed and the Lecturers are all experts in their field. They are able to explain complex scenarios in easy terms, which helps in the comprehension"

Experienced instructors and guest speakers bring diverse perspectives.

"Excellent and highly recommended! Great faculty and guest speakers from diverse backgrounds providing a wide spectrum of opinions."

"I found this course to be incredibly interesting and informative. The group of various instructors made the subject matter easy enough to understand yet complex enough to get across the information."

Some learners feel the course lacks in-depth technical explanations or mathematical models.

"There were some racial expression in vaccination module towards Muslims, so I hope from the instructors to leave the religions and focus on the scientific concept"

"This is an extremely informative, easy to understand course that I will recommend to anyone that is interested in learning about epidemiology."

Some learners note that the course material is slightly dated and could use updates to reflect current research and developments in the field.

"The material is a few years old now, and it will presumably get revamped in the light of Covid-19"

"It was a good course. It covered everything I had expected. I didn't care for the "epidemiologist" sections but realize it is integral to the subject."

Career center

Learners who complete Epidemics - the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Digital Epidemiologist

As a Digital Epidemiologist, you will use digital data to study the spread and control of infectious diseases. The course Epidemics - the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases may be useful to you because it provides a foundation in the principles of epidemiology and the analysis of digital health data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Epidemiologist

Virologist

As a Virologist, you will study viruses and the diseases they cause. The course Epidemics - the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases may be useful for you because it covers topics such as the transmission, spread and dynamics of viruses, as well as current research on the evolution and control of viral infections.

See salaries and explore the career path for Virologist

Infectious Disease Physician

As an Infectious Disease Physician, you will diagnose and treat patients with infectious diseases. The course Epidemics - the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases may be useful to you because it covers topics such as the causes of infectious diseases, the development of new treatments, and the prevention of epidemics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Infectious Disease Physician

Mathematical Modeler

As a Mathematical Modeler, you will develop and use mathematical models to study the spread and control of infectious diseases. The course Epidemics - the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases may be useful to you because it provides a foundation in the principles of epidemiology and the mathematical modeling of infectious disease dynamics.

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Parasitologist

As a Parasitologist, you will study parasites and the diseases they cause. The course Epidemics - the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases may be useful to you because it covers topics such as the transmission, spread and dynamics of parasites, as well as current research on the evolution and control of parasitic infections.

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Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer

As an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer, you will investigate outbreaks of infectious diseases and develop strategies to prevent and control them. The course Epidemics - the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases may be useful to you because it covers topics such as the principles of epidemiology, the methods used to investigate outbreaks, and the development of public health policies.

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Data Scientist

As a Data Scientist, you will use data to solve problems and make predictions. The course Epidemics - the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases may be useful to you because it provides a foundation in the principles of epidemiology and the analysis of public health data.

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Microbiologist

As a Microbiologist, you will study microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. The course Epidemics - the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases may be useful to you because it covers topics such as the transmission, spread and dynamics of microorganisms, as well as current research on the evolution and control of microbial infections.

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Immunologist

As an Immunologist, you will study the immune system and how it protects the body from infection. The course Epidemics - the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases may be useful to you because it covers topics such as the role of the immune system in preventing and controlling infectious diseases.

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Epidemiologist

As an Epidemiologist, you will study the causes and effects of health-related states and events in specified populations. The course Epidemics - the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases may be useful to you because it teaches the basics of infectious disease dynamics, including the spread of diseases, the development of vaccines, and the control of epidemics.

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Science Writer

As a Science Writer, you will communicate complex scientific information to a general audience. The course Epidemics - the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases may be useful to you because it provides a foundation in the principles of epidemiology and the communication of science.

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Ecologist

As an Ecologist, you will study the interactions between organisms and their environment. The course Epidemics - the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases may be useful to you because it covers topics such as the role of the environment in the transmission and spread of infectious diseases.

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Public Health Scientist

As a Public Health Scientist, you will work to promote and protect the health of populations. The course Epidemics - the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases may be useful to you because it covers topics such as the spread of infectious diseases, the development of vaccines, and the control of epidemics.

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Medical Researcher

As a Medical Researcher, you will conduct research to advance medical knowledge and improve public health. The course Epidemics - the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases may be useful to you because it covers topics such as the causes of disease, the development of new treatments, and the evaluation of public health programs.

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Health Communications Specialist

As a Health Communications Specialist, you will develop and implement communication strategies to promote public health. The course Epidemics - the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases may be useful to you because it provides a foundation in the principles of epidemiology and the communication of public health information.

See salaries and explore the career path for Health Communications Specialist