Plagues and People. 2-3cr. Past offering 2023
Diseases have impacted human lives and society throughout our history. This course focuses on the pathogens and parasites that cause human plagues including flu, typhus, plague, and other viral infections. Special attention will be paid to those plagues that have had the greatest impact on human culture, society and expression. Lectures will be supplemented with readings, classroom activities, interactive assignments, and videos. In addition to the biology and impacts of these plagues, we will also address the reasons why new pathogens emerge; the social factors that influence how diseases emerge, spread, and cause harm; and the risk of future outbreaks.
Learning Outcomes.By the end of this course, students should be able to:
1. Describe the basic biology of key pathogens that cause human disease, including how they are transmitted, detected/monitored, and controlled, as well as how each of these pathogens was discovered.
2. Understand how outbreaks start, how new pathogens emerge, and the process involved in outbreak investigations performed by “disease detectives”.
3. Explain how human activities (ex: war, deforestation, political decisions, social prejudice, trade, etc.) can affect both the spread and the control of infectious diseases.
4. Summarize the impact some diseases (eg: The Black Death) have had on human suffering, economy, society, art, and culture throughout history.
5. Compare biological, social, and historical perspectives on individual diseases, thereby developing a multifaceted understanding of infectious disease.
6. Critically evaluate how diseases are portrayed in the media, as well as the quality of disease information provided by common media outlets (TV, newspapers, online news, and on social media)
7. Perform self-directed learning in biology by identifying, and then synthesizing, credible resources available to the educated layperson.
8. Communicate effectively concerning controversial issues that relate to infectious diseases, in both written and oral form.
9. Design a final project that represents a creative reflection of one or more major themes of the course.
Next offered FAll 2024. ENTOM 4520 INTRODUCTION TO DISEASE VECTORS 3CR and Laboratory (ENTOM 4521)
Introduces vector taxonomy, evolution, biology, behavior, and the history of vector-borne disease control, with an emphasis on the Northeast USA. Some lectures will be taught by NEVBD collaborators and experts in vector control/public health via video link. Through a series of lectures and active learning projects, students will gain knowledge of the latest surveillance approaches, control methods, and challenges for controlling vector-borne diseases, which they will explore in greater detail through subsequent course offerings. In this course, students will gain an understanding of arthropod biology, body plan, organ systems, behavior and physiology, infection biology and immunity. Students will also gain practical skills with arthropod identification and demonstrate a solid understanding of disease vector evolutionary relationships. In addition, students will learn how to apply knowledge gained from the class in future roles as public health practitioners, or simply as informed citizens.
eCornell CE credit-based learning online at https://ecornell.cornell.edu
- Biology of mosquitoes, ticks, and other disease- causing arthropods (4-week online course 5-7 hours per week) Learn about the fascinating biology of arthropods that impact human health in this introductory course! Enroll Today!
- Describe the physiology, life history,behavior, and ecology of differentarthropods that affect human health
- Compare, contrast, & describetransmission cycles for pathogens andparasites that vectors pass along
- Explain common methods of preventing or mitigating harmful impacts arthropods may have on human health
- Vector-borne disease surveillance, testing and reporting (5-7 hours per week, self-paced) Gain the knowledge & resources necessary to design an effective vector surveillance program in your local jurisdiction REGISTER TODAY !
- Access to engaging instructor videos, discussions, interactive content, and tools to download & apply on the job
- Practical assignments & individual feedback from expert instructors
- Interactions with fellow students in your cohort
- Topics covered include standardized trapping, species identification, testing for pathogens & data interpretation