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Transboundary Animal Diseases (VETS90087)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Not available in 2019
Overview
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This subject focuses on highly contagious livestock epidemics.
Several diseases of domestic mammals are recognised to be of particular importance, due especially to high rates of transmission and/or morbidity and mortality. These include the “vesicular diseases”: foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), Vesicular Stomatitis (VS), and Swine Vesicular Disease (SVD), and two serious diseases of swine: classical swine fever (CSF) and African swine fever (ASF). These diseases have been responsible for two of the most serious animal disease outbreaks in recent time, viz. the CSF epidemic in the Netherlands in 1997-98 and the FMD epidemic in the UK in 2001.
This subject will use online lecture notes and study materials to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the course of several historical vesicular disease epidemics, including the practical diagnostic challenges presented during them. Accordingly, it will deepen the understanding gained from VETS90083 Selection & Interpretation of Lab Tests and VETS90086 Epidemiology of Epidemics.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students will have gained:
- A comprehensive understanding of epidemiology and diagnosis of several important epidemic diseases of farm animals
- An in-depth familiarity of the literature describing the events of some of the epidemics of these diseases, inter alia CSF in the Netherlands (1997-98), FMD in the UK (1967-68 and 2001), ASF in Spain (1992) and its more recent incursion into Georgia and VS in the USA (1995 – 2005)
- A capability to make a retrospective critical evaluation of the management of a major animal disease epidemics, including timeliness of the early diagnosis, outbreak response co-ordination, information management, and maintenance of public goodwill
Generic skills
On completion of this subject, students should have developed their:
- Ability to critically interpret the scientific literature describing historical animal disease epidemics
- Ability to read and write reports critically evaluating the management of a major animal disease epidemics
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Students should have background knowledge in one of:
VETS50003
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
VETS90083 | Selection & Interpretation of Lab Tests | Winter Term (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Plus one of:
VETS50004
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
VETS90084 | Communication in Disease Emergencies | Not available in 2024 |
12.5 |
Plus one of:
VETS50005
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
VETS90085 | Management in Disease Emergencies | Not available in 2024 |
12.5 |
Plus one of:
VETS50006
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
VETS90086 | Epidemiology of Epidemics | February (Online) |
12.5 |
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
Students will be assessed for participation in weekly forum discussions, a group assignment in approximately Week 5 and final written exam in approximately Week 9 or 10. Students will be required to arrange an appropriate venue (e.g. a nearby university) to sit this assessment under supervised examination conditions.
The assessment components of this subject are:
- Participation in online forum discussions (25%)
- Group assignment (1000 words per student) (20%)
- 2-hour final written exam (55%)
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
Not available in 2019
Time commitment details
170 hours
Additional delivery details
Prior to 2017 this subject was VETS50007 Emergency Animal Diseases 1.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Students will use a reading list of scientific articles from the current literature.
- Subject notes
Reliable internet access with at least a medium speed connection and a personal computer are essential for undertaking this online program. The content is accessed through your web browser. Microsoft Office™ and Adobe Acrobat Reader or equivalent software packages are necessary for assessment tasks, assignments and some class exercises.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Veterinary Public Health (Emergency Animal Diseases)
Last updated: 3 November 2022