14.1.2014
Name of the course: Essentials of Infectious disease epidemiology
Lecturers and practicals: Professor Ralf Reintjes (RR), Hamburg University of Applied
Sciences, Germany (ralf.reintjes@haw-hamburg.de), Heini Huhtala, Pekka Nuorti
Coordinator: Heini Huhtala (HH) (heini.huhtala@uta.fi)
Language and extent (ECTS): English, 2 ECTS
Aims: The students will have a basic knowledge on specific concepts, activities and
methodology in infectious diseases epidemiology.
Content: The purpose of the course is to present the principles of infectious disease
epidemiology. Lectures giving theoretical background information and practical
examples are combined with authentic case studies where participants will get hands
on experience in Field Epidemiology.
Requirements: Participation in the course lectures, seminars and group works. No
examination.
Target group: Postgraduate and master students.
Attendance: The course is open for all university of Tampere students and staff of
University hospital but limited to 30 students. If more students wish to take the course,
preference is given to postgraduate and degree students in health sciences and others
will be accepted in the order of registration.
Schedule: January 27 to 31, 2014, from 9 to 5 pm.
Place: HES, T-building, Medisiinarinkatu 3, Tampere.
Enrolment: Registration through www- form (deadline 14.1.2014)
https://elomake3.uta.fi/lomakkeet/11070/lomake.html
Course programme
Monday, Group room 1
Introduction to Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Surveillance
9:00-9:30 Welcome to the course (HH, RR)
9:30-10:30
Lecture: Principles of infectious disease epidemiology (RR)
10:45-12:00
Lecture: Surveillance principles (RR)
Lunch
13:00-15:00
Case Study: Surveillance in the Caribbean (RR), Group rooms 2 and 4
15:00-16:00
Lecture: Benchmarking Surveillance-Systems in Europe (RR)
16:00-17:00
Group work: Infectious Disease Control, Computer class (T-building)
Tuesday, Ylähylly
Outbreak investigation
9:00 – 9:15
9:15 – 10:15
10:30 – 12:00
13:00 - 14:15
14:30-16:30
16:30-17:00
Revision (RR)
Lecture: Analytic tools for surveillance (RR)
Seminar: Presentation of infectious diseases by participants (moderation RR)
Lunch
Lecture: Outbreak investigation: principles and examples (RR)
Case study in groups: Trichinosis in France (RR), Group rooms 2 and 4
Lecture: Lessons learned from Paris (RR)
Wednesday, Group room 1
Special study designs
9:00-9:15 Revision
9:15-10:00
Lecture: Case-control vs. cohort study (NN)
10:00-11:00
Lecture: Special study designs in IDE (Case-case study design) (RR)
11:00-12:00
Exercise: Case-case study compared to case-control study in outbreak investigation
(RR)
Lunch
13:00 – 15:30
Case study in PC-lab: Botulism in Argentina (RR), Computer class (B-building)
16:00 – 17:00
Lecture: Special study designs in IDE (Case-crossover study design) (RR)
Thursday, Ylähylly
Outbreaks and Pandemics
9:00 – 9:15
9:15-10:00
10:15-12:30
13:00 – 14:00
14:00 - 15:00
15:00 – 17:30
Revision
Lecture: Pandemic control, the example of SARS (RR)
Case study in groups: Ebola, Salmonella & Asthma, Group rooms 2 and 4
Lunch
Presentations of the results from the case studies (moderator RR)
Lecture: Success and failure of Public Health Policy (RR)
MOVIE (HH & RR)
Friday, Group room 1
Modeling and policy advice
9:00-9:15 Revision
9:15-12:00
Lecture with Exercise on mathematical modeling for Public Health Policy (RR)
Lunch
12:45 – 13:30
Lecture: How can policy advice look like in practice (PN)
13:45 – 15:30
Case study: Policies to stop an epidemic (RR), Group rooms 2 and 4
15:30 – 16:30
Discussion and Course evaluation (all)