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Vectorborne & Wildlife Reservoir Disease (VETS90088)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Not available in 2020
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
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This subject focuses on vector-borne and wildlife reservoir emergency diseases.
Many emergency animal diseases in the recent past have a complex epidemiology, either involving insect vectors and/or or wildlife reservoirs. Many of these outbreaks were initially new or emerging, and in some cases were zoonotic. Accordingly, they posed challenges to control and eradication not encountered with simpler vesicular disease epidemics. Examples include West Nile Fever (WNF), Bluetongue virus (BTV), African Horse Sickness (AHS), and infection with the henipaviruses, Hendra and Nipah.
This subject will use online lecture notes and study materials to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the course of several historical vector-borne and wildlife epidemics of farm animals, including the practical control and eradication challenges presented by them. Accordingly, it will deepen the understanding gained from VETS90083 Selection and Interpretation of Lab Tests and VETS90086 Epidemiology of Epidemics, and expand on the understanding from VETS90087 Transboundary Animal Diseases.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students will have gained:
- a comprehensive understanding of epidemiology and diagnosis of several important emergency diseases: West Nile Fever (WNF), Bluetongue virus (BTV), African Horse Sickness (AHS), Hendra virus and Nipah virus;
- an in-depth familiarity of the literature describing the events of some of the epidemics of these diseases, inter alia BTV8 in northern Europe (2006- - present), WNV in North America (2003-07), AHS in Spain and Portugal (1987-90), Hendra virus outbreaks in Queensland (1994 – present) and Nipah virus in Malaysia (1999); and
- a capability to make a critical evaluation of the management of complex animal disease emergencies, including the challenges of control without adequate scientific knowledge and/or where environmental vectors or reservoirs make total eradication impossible.
Generic skills
On completion of this subject, students should have developed their:
- ability to critically interpret the scientific literature describing historical animal disease emergencies; and
- 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
One of:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
VETS90083 | Selection & Interpretation of Lab Tests | Not available in 2024 |
12.5 |
Plus one of:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
VETS90084 | Communication in Disease Emergencies | August (Online) |
12.5 |
Plus one of:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
VETS90085 | Management in Disease Emergencies | April (Online) |
12.5 |
Plus one of:
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
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Participation in online forum discussions | Throughout the teaching period | 25% |
Group assignment (1000 words per student)
| Week 5 | 20% |
Final written exam in approximately Week 9 or 10
| Second half of the teaching period | 55% |
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 above.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
Not available in 2020
Time commitment details
170 hours
Additional delivery details
Prior to 2017 this subject was VETS50008 Emergency Animal Diseases 2.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Students will use a reading list of scientific articles from the current literature, which will be provided on-line.
- 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.
Last updated: 3 November 2022