May 22, 2019
Apart from their direct impact, outbreaks also have on-going human, social and economic consequences, which can devastate fragile health systems in affected areas. Therefore, to ensure better local and global health, the need for expertise in coordinating rapid responses to disease outbreaks remains strong.
Dr. Elizabeth B. Brickley filming the MOOC at LSHTM
With this concern high on their agenda, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) has designed a massive open online course (MOOC) under the leadership of Prof. Jimmy Whitworth, entitled: “Disease Outbreaks in Low- & Middle-Income Countries.” The MOOC, which will be launched shortly, includes a contribution by ZikaPLAN Work Package 1 Leader, Dr. Elizabeth B. Brickley, with a segment entitled “How outbreaks unfold.”
During this three-week free online course, participants will delve into the different questions that outbreaks raise: What is an outbreak? Why do outbreaks matter? How do we prepare for and respond to outbreaks? And, importantly, participants will also consider the future of outbreak preparedness and response.
Using videos, presentations, articles and discussions, participants will hear from a wide range of experts across disciplines including epidemiology, microbiology, clinical medicine, social science, health policy, and health systems. “Infectious disease outbreaks threaten the health and wellbeing of people worldwide. The MOOC platform provides us with an incredible opportunity to connect to public health practitioners across the globe and share best practices for epidemic preparedness and response,” says Dr. Brickley.
The course, which focuses on low- and middle-income countries that bear a high burden of the human, social and economic impacts of disease outbreaks, will be available in English, French, Spanish, Russian and Arabic. The course is specifically designed for all those interested in studying or working in global and public health. This includes government stakeholders; health practitioners and NGO employees - particularly those working in countries regularly affected by infectious disease outbreaks.
Admissions will open in the next few weeks.