PUBLIC HEALTH AND RISK ASSESSMENT
CE 76520

Course Objectives:
This course broadens and deepens the concept of epidemiological studies and methodology, with a focus on environmental transmission. The students will work on cases related to diarrhoeal, parasitic and vector-borne diseases. The students will learn and be able to apply the Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) concept. The students will be able to apply their knowledge in field projects as well as in system based management applications.

1. Fundamentals of Epidemiology
   (5 hours)
1. Infectious and noninfectious diseases
2. Infectious disease transmission routes
3. Organic and inorganic contaminants
4. Health and water quality
2. Pathogens (Excreta Bacteria, Viruses Protozoa, Helminthes) and their Control
   (10 hours)
1. Disease transmitted by arthropod vectors
1. mosquito
2. flies
3. cockroaches
4. ticks
5. lice
6. fleas
7. rodents
8. disease transmission mechanism and control
2. Water-related
3. Excreta related
4. Refuse.related
5. Housing-related
6. Air-related diseases
7. Control HIV/AIDS
3. Sample and Questionnaire
   (8 hours)
1. Questionnaire based approaches
2. Statistical handling and link to GIS based approaches
3. Surveys both in societies and in agricultural applications
4. Risk Assessment
   (8 hours)
1. Risk Assessment within an integrated system approach
2. Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA)
3. QMRA relate to risk reduction
4. Treatment barriers, non-technical barriers
5. Relationship to habits
6. Handling practices
5. Relationship Between Public Health and the Risk Assessment Parts with the WHO Guidelines for
   (8 hours)
1. Water
2. Wastewater
3. Water safety plan to avoid fecal contamination
6. Case Studies
   (6 hours)
1. Case studies based on public health and the risk assessment

Tutorial:

1. Introduction of Epidemiology
   (2 hours)
2. Disease Transmitted by Arthropod Vectors
   (2 hours)
3. Risk Assessment within an Integrated System Approach
   Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA)
   (7 hours)
4. Case Studies
   (4 hours)

Practical / Project work:

1. Concepts of epidemiology
2. Disease transmitted by arthropod vectors
3. Risk Assessment
4. Case studies

References:

1. Bennett, P., Calman, K., "Risk Communication and Public Health", Oxford Medical Publications, London.
2. Fjeld, R. A., Eisenberg, N.A., Compton, K. L, "Quantitative Environmental Risk Analysis for Human Health". John Wiley & Sons, NJ.
3. Lawson, A. B., Biggeri, A., Bohning, D., Lesaffre, E., "Disease Mapping and Risk Assessment for Public Health', John Wiley & Sons, England.
4. Robson, M. C., Toscano, W. A, " Risk Assessment for Environmental Health (Public Health/Environmental Health)", Association of Schools of Public Health, John Willey & Sons, San Francisco.
5. Andy Cairncross and Richard C. Feachem, "Environmental Health Engineering in the Tropics",
6. Christopher R. Schulz and Danial A. Okun, 'Surface Water Treatment for Communities in Developing Countries',
7. City for Copenhagen, Healthy City Plan, Copenhagen, Copenhagen Health Services, (ISBN 8798411187)
8. JICA, July 1991, Basic design study report on "The Project for Kathmandu Water Supply Facility Improvement in The Kingdom of Nepal'
9. Richard G. Feachem, David J. Bradley, Hemda Garelick and D. Duncan Mara, 'Appropriate Technology for Water Supply and Sanitation", Health Aspects of Excreta and Sullage Management-a State of Art Review', the World Bank.
10. RWSSFDB, A study on "Water Quality", Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Fund Development Board.
11. Tsouros, A., ed WHO Healthy Cities Projects: a Project Becomes a Movement (review of progress 1987 to 1990) Copenhagen, WHO/FAD1.1990 and SOGESS, Milan.
12. WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality.

Evaluation Scheme:
The questions will cover all the chapters in the syllabus. The evaluation scheme will be as indicated in the table below:

Chapter	Hours	Marks Distribution*
1	10	16
2	15	24
3	8	15
4	8	15
5	4	10
Total	45	80

*There could be minor deviation in mark distribution.