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Eradicable Diseases (VETS90089)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Online
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.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
February
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Availability | February - Online |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
This subject focuses on eradicable infectious diseases.
Within the past 50 years a number of previously endemic diseases have been successfully eradicated from a number of countries, including bovine tuberculosis (BTB), bovine brucellosis, contagious pleuropneumonia, rinderpest and rabies. Although similar general eradication strategies were applied (usually by vaccination and/or test and slaughter) each of these diseases posed distinct challenges when eradication strategies were implemented in different countries. Thus, for example, BTB was readily eradicated from Australia but due to a wildlife reservoir, not from New Zealand.
This subject will use online lecture notes and study materials to provide students with an in-depth understanding of developing and implementing an animal disease eradication strategy. 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 and VETS90088 Vectorborne & Wildlife Reservoir Disease.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students will have gained:
- A comprehensive understanding of epidemiology and diagnosis of several important eradicable animal diseases: bovine tuberculosis (BTB), bovine brucellosis, contagious pleuropneumonia, rinderpest and rabies
- An in-depth familiarity of the literature describing the events of some of the eradication campaigns of these diseases, including the pleuropneumonia and BTEC campaigns in Australia, the eradication of rabies from western Europe, and rinderpest from Africa and Asia
- A capability to make a critical evaluation of the management of animal disease eradication campaigns, including handling the difficult tail end of a campaign when political will may be flagging and all detections need to be treated as emergencies
Generic skills
On completion of this subject, students should have developed their:
- Ability to critically interpret the scientific literature describing historical animal disease eradication campaigns
- Ability to read and write reports critically evaluating the planning and implementation of animal disease eradication programs
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Students require a background knowledge in one of:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
VETS90083 | Selection & Interpretation of Lab Tests | Not available in 2024 |
12.5 |
Plus one of:
VETS50004
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
VETS90084 | Communication in Disease Emergencies | August (Online) |
12.5 |
Plus one of:
VETS50005
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
VETS90085 | Management in Disease Emergencies | April (Online) |
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
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
| 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
- February - Online
Coordinator Simon Firestone Mode of delivery Online Contact hours Approximately 10-14 hours per week over an 8-week period Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 3 February 2020 to 27 March 2020 Last self-enrol date 13 February 2020 Census date 21 February 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 20 March 2020 Assessment period ends 10 April 2020 February contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Additional delivery details
Prior to 2017 this subject was VETS50009 Emergency Animal Diseases 3.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Students will use a reading list of scientific articles from 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