Disease Outbreak Investigation and Response in the Philippine Context

Course Overview

This specialized program equips health professionals with essential skills and knowledge for effective disease outbreak management. Adapted to the unique context of healthcare in the Philippines, it incorporates the One Health approach, addressing the interconnected health of humans, animals, and the environment.

Course Format

The modules will be delivered through the following methods:

• Self-paced Video Lectures: Pre-recorded lectures that can be watched at students’ convenience
• Video Tutorials: Short instructional videos providing additional guidance on key concepts
• Online Handouts: Supplementary reading materials that enhance the video lectures
• Situation-Based Exercises: Practical exercises and case studies for real-life application
• Epidemiology Case Studies: Real-world case studies demonstrating epidemiological principles

Eligibility

The course is designed for animal health professionals, local government animal care providers, and veterinary students. No prerequisites are required, but a basic understanding of public health concepts is recommended.

Course Modules

• Module 1: Principles of Disease Outbreak Investigation
• Module 2: One Health Approach to Disease Outbreaks
• Module 3: Rapid Response and Prevention Strategies
• Module 4: Epidemiological Data Analysis in Disease Outbreaks
• Module 5: Communication Strategies in Public Health Emergencies

Course Duration

Approximately one hour per module.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the key principles of identifying and analyzing disease outbreaks
• Gain understanding of the One Health concept and its importance in disease outbreak response
• Recognize the interconnections of human, animal, and environmental health in managing outbreak situations
• Understand rapid response techniques for disease outbreak control
• Learn to collect, analyze, and interpret epidemiological data to guide outbreak response decisions
• Identify effective communication strategies during disease outbreaks
• Ensure clear, timely, and accurate information dissemination during public health emergencies

Registration Fee

This course is offered free of charge, ensuring accessibility to all participants dedicated to strengthening disease outbreak preparedness and response capabilities in the Philippines.

Certificate Issuance

Criteria: Only students who achieve a score of 80% or higher on the post-test will receive a certificate of completion.

Process: Certificates are automatically generated and sent to eligible students upon completion of the post-test.

Course Instructors

Dr. Precy D. Magtoto holds a doctorate degree in Microbiology and is an Associate Professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU), Magalang, Pampanga, Philippines. Most of her research involvements  as mentor to thesis students are on  studies on bacterial isolation, antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST), and microbiological risk assessment. She is also active in extension activities and maintains a limited small animal practice.

Dr. Maylen D. Pineda is an esteemed Associate Professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine, based in Magalang, Pampanga, Philippines. With nearly two decades of academic experience, teaching veterinary public health subjects such as Epidemiology, Food Hygiene, and Safety, she prepares future veterinarians to not only care for animals but also to understand the broader role they play in safeguarding public health.

Dr. Maureen Khimmery B. Supan, is a veterinarian that has started her involvement in One Health during her student years and has continued in attending various international consortium in One Health. Her professional background mainly involves clinical practice, diagnostics, and academe.

Dr. Remedios D. San Jose is a distinguished professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine of Pampanga State Agricultural University. She holds a doctorate degree in Public Health and has a notable record of authoring and co-authoring publications in esteemed scientific journals. Dr. San Jose is actively engaged in extension activities, particularly focusing on rabies control and prevention, where she contributes significantly to public health initiatives.

Dr. Ronnie D. Domingo, a Fellow of the Philippine College of Veterinary Epidemiologists and a distinguished veterinary epidemiologist, served as the technical expert and provided consultation for these modules. His expertise in disease outbreak investigation, surveillance, and control is demonstrated by his research, peer-reviewed publications, and advancements in disease prevention and epidemiological methodologies.