Emergency Animal Diseases 2

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

170 hours

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None

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For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

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 VETS50003 Selection and Interpretation of Lab Tests and VETS50006 Epidemiology of Epidemics, and expand on the understanding from VETS50007 Emergency Animal Disease 1.

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.

Students will be assessed for participation in weekly forum discussions, group assignment in week 5 and final written exam in week 9 and 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 (15%)
• Group assignment of 4000 words (25%)
• Written 2-hour final exam (60%)

Students will use a reading list of scientific articles from the current literature, which will be provided on-line.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

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.

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.