Lancaster University is offering open online course on Influenza to showcase just a small fraction of the great offerings at the University. This course is intended for anyone with a general interest in health and disease – from school students to health professionals.
The overall objective of this course is to get an introduction to the biology, epidemiology and evolution of the influenza virus. The course starts on January 18, 2016.
User Review
( votes)Course At A Glance
Length: 2 weeks
Effort: 3 hours/week
Subject: Influenza
Institution: Lancaster University & FutureLearn
Languages: English
Price: Free
Certificate Available: Yes
Session: Course starts on January 18, 2016.
Providers Details
Ranked in the global top 1%, Lancaster is a collegiate university with a world-class reputation for research and teaching excellence.
Lancaster pioneers globally significant research and uses its expertise to shape policy and encourage debate. Ranked 9th in the THE’s global ‘100 under 50’ university league table, the University has established a global reputation as a centre for research, scholarship and teaching with an emphasis on employability.
FutureLearn offers a diverse selection of courses from leading universities and cultural institutions from around the world. These are delivered one step at a time, and are accessible on mobile, tablet and desktop, so you can fit learning around your life.
About This Course
Since 1918, our understanding of influenza virus has come a long way. We can now trace how the pandemics of the last hundred years originated in bird flu and swine flu, and we can model the evolution of the virus from year to year, aiding vaccine design. We also have some anti-viral drugs that can be used in emergencies, and we understand more about how flu is transmitted and possible ways to prevent its spread.
In this free online course, we will cover everything from the history of influenza to modern laboratory diagnostics and vaccination. You’ll learn about the annual cycle that brings seasonal flu to our shores every winter, and also how avian and pig flus can contribute to the emergence of new pandemic strains of flu.
Why Take This Course?
This is a free online course. There will be laboratory demonstrations, interviews with experts in a variety of relevant fields, and discussion sessions, where you’ll be invited to contribute your own experiences and opinions to the subject of flu, and how we should treat and prevent it.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course you will applicants will be equipped with the biology, epidemiology and evolution of the influenza virus.
Instructors
-Derek Gatherer (lead educator)
Faculty of Health and Medicine
Lancaster University, UK.
Requirements
The course is suitable for anyone with a general interest in health and disease – from school students to health professionals.
