• Offered by Research School of Population Health
  • ANU College ANU Joint Colleges of Science
  • Classification Specialist
  • Course subject Population Health
  • Academic career PGRD
  • Mode of delivery In Person
  • Offered in First Semester 2017
    See Future Offerings
  • Do you have an interest in how outbreaks of communicable diseases are investigated and controlled?

  • Do you currently work or want to work in the area of outbreak investigation?

  • Do you want to learn from experienced practitioners in the field?

This course is designed to equip participants with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required to undertake investigation and control of outbreaks in the field.  Through the course, the emphasis will be on applying  knowledge and concepts to scenarios based on real-life outbreaks.  Teaching will be through case studies, lectures and small group tutorials.

Topics will include:

  • The fundamental steps in investigating an outbreak

  • Study designs used in outbreak investigations

  • Analysis of data from outbreak investigations using Epi Info

  • Specific considerations of investigating outbreaks of foodborne, waterborne and respiratory disease

  • Social and ecological factors in outbreak emergence and control

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1.      Devise and execute the necessary steps in a simple outbreak investigation, and be able to support a more complex one

2.      Compile a line listing, formulate a case definition and draw an epi curve

3.      Design and appraise analytical studies used in outbreak investigations

4.      Analyse and interpret outbreak investigation data using Epi Info

5.      Communicate outbreak investigation findings to a  scientific audience

6.      Identify appropriate outbreak control measures for important diseases at a local, national and international level

7.      Describe key pieces of public health legislation and guidelines relevant to outbreak investigation

8.      Recognise indicators of a potential disease outbreak

Other Information

Students enrolled in this course are required to have completed an undergraduate degree and Masters level courses on Epidemiology and/or Biostatistics from a recognised School of Public Health (either in Australia or internationally), or completion of Fundamentals of Epidemiology and Fundamentals of Biostatistics short courses held at the ANU. Students wishing to do these subjects, but do not have these prerequisites should contact the convener.

Indicative Assessment

Assessment will be through a combination of online assessment (20%) and 3 x short assignments (25% each)

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Workload

Attendance and participation at a five day intensive program. Students will be required to spend time on pre-reading, self-directed study and completing the assessment requirements as per a 6-unit course load.

Requisite and Incompatibility

You are not able to enrol in this course if you have completed POPH8916

You will need to contact the Research School of Population Health to request a permission code to enrol in this course.

Prescribed Texts

Michael Gregg (ed). Field Epidemiology. 3rd Edition. Oxford University Press, New York 2008. ISBN: 978-0-19-531380-2

Fees

Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.  

If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.

Student Contribution Band:
2
Unit value:
6 units

If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.  Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.

Units EFTSL
6.00 0.12500
Domestic fee paying students
Year Fee
2017 $4092
International fee paying students
Year Fee
2017 $5454
Note: Please note that fee information is for current year only.

Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

The list of offerings for future years is indicative only.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.

First Semester

Class number Class start date Last day to enrol Census date Class end date Mode Of Delivery Class Summary
3241 20 Feb 2017 27 Feb 2017 31 Mar 2017 26 May 2017 In Person N/A

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