Description

Pathogens and Disease introduces students to disease-causing agents and epidemiology. Students culture bacteria and fungi and, using a microscope, examine and classify the microorganisms they grow. Students explore diseases such as smallpox, rabies, and AIDS to better understand the effect of pathogens and disease on the population at large.

Through a simulated disease outbreak, students perform the necessary procedures to identify, contain, and control an epidemic. Activities include culturing and identifying bacteria and fungi, analyzing data such as patient interviews and questionnaires, creating an epidemic curve, and calculating attack rate and relative risk for various exposures.