The M.P.H. curriculum in Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases is designed to train students to understand the epidemiology of the major infectious agents, the diseases they cause, and the host response to those diseases. The interaction of the agent (parasite, bacterium, or virus) with the host and the influence of the environment are studied. The curriculum considers the role of immunological response, genetics, natural history of vectors, geographic distribution, and transmission and transport of agents.
Emphasis is placed on the application of epidemiologic concepts to intervention in transmission cycles and disease progression. Intervention may be accomplished through such measures as vaccination, antimicrobial therapy, vector control, or behavior modification. The student is encouraged to obtain a solid laboratory foundation for diagnosis, for population-based serologic surveys, and for understanding the molecular basis of disease processes and intervention strategies. Infectious disease problems and solutions in resource-poor countries are extensively considered.