Infectious Diseases and HIV Conference

Public health is epidemiology-based: It informs and forms part of the understanding of factors governing the distribution and determinants of infectious diseases.

In the session, participants will be introduced to general principles and methods of epidemiology, especially how they apply to the prevention, detection, and control of outbreaks of infectious diseases. Participants will gain an understanding of how epidemiologic research informs policies and interventions aimed at protecting public health.

Epidemiology, in the distribution of infectious diseases among the population, tries to identify what may be causing their spread. With statistical analysis, epidemiologists can determine the incidence and prevalence of infections and thus understand and drive trends and patterns for effective disease control.

It will cover the fundamental epidemiological concepts-the basic morbidity and mortality rates, the basic reproduction number (R0), and the transmission dynamics forming therefore the general frame of any prediction of course evolution of an outbreak.

The backbone of epidemiology and critical for the detection of infections in the early stage is disease surveillance. Surveillance, through data collection, analysis, and interpretation, tracks the trend of infection, identifies outbreaks, and control measures evaluated.

This session will discuss the various approaches to surveillance: syndrome, laboratory-based, and sentinel, and the importance of timely reporting and international collaboration as these relate to the management of global health threats.

Outbreak investigation is critical as it forms the basis of determining the source of infection regarding diseases and enables control measures to be initiated and implemented that can contribute toward disease eradication through further transmission.

Techniques utilized include contact tracing, case-control studies, and molecular epidemiology for the identification of routes of transmission as well as risk factors.

During the session, real-life examples of outbreak investigations will be shared, such as how epidemiological methods are applied to counter infectious diseases.

In addition to this, the epidemiological role in assessing the effectiveness of vaccines, therapy, and public health intervention will also be shared with participants.

From learning about epidemiology tools and strategies through this gathering, attendees will come closer to bettering the challenges they currently face with preventive measures against infectious diseases through future alternatives.