PH 235

In this course we will discuss a brief history of pandemics and factors that have contributed to the development of new and emerging pathogens in recent decades, along with their potential to spread globally. Specifically, the purpose of this course is to provide participants with an advanced overview of the Covid-19 pandemic and what we have discovered about it in the initial six months. Specifically, we will discuss what we know about the origin of SARS-CoV-2 and how it causes disease in humans; its signs and symptoms; diagnosis; epidemiology (distribution of disease among various populations); developing treatment options; and primary and secondary prevention strategies. We will review updates on the ongoing state of the pandemic and its impact on special populations, using case studies and current events. Finally, we will discuss challenges (political, cultural, social, economic, etc.) related to community engagement and the implementation of public health strategies and explore some basic public health strategies for overcoming them.