About this Course

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 course covers the following four topics:

1. Origins of novel pathogens;
2. Analysis of the spread of infectious diseases;
3. Medical and public health countermeasures to prevent and control epidemics;
4. Panel discussions involving leading public health experts with deep frontline experiences to share their views on risk communication, crisis management, ethics and public trust in the context of infectious disease control.

Course Staff

• Professor Gabriel Leung, Division of Community Medicine and Public Health Practice, HKU School of Public Health
• Professor Malik Peiris, Division of Public Health Laboratory Sciences, HKU School of Public Health
• Professor Kwok-Yung Yuen, HKU Department of Microbiology
• Professor Yi Guan, Division of Public Health Laboratory Sciences, HKU School of Public Health
• Dr. Benjamin Cowling, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, HKU School of Public Health
• Dr. Joseph Wu, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, HKU School of Public Health
• Professor Marc Lipsitch, Harvard School of Public Health
• Dr. Mark Jit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
• Thomas Abraham, HKU Journalism and Media Studies Centre

(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.