Infectious Diseases: What, When, How

An online lecture about the What: Where and When of infectious diseases

by William G.J. Edwards, Curator at Gordon Museum, Guy’s Campus King's College London, London.

The lecture aims to provide an overview of what is an infectious disease, which organism types are responsible for the propagation of infections, modes of transmission and Pathogenic mechanisms. The means by which Pathogen types are identified and emphasizing the importance and impact of various infectious diseases on society and humanity generally.

Some historic context is provided and a more in-depth review of some “Old” Diseases implicated in Pandemics and Epidemics, The Bubonic Plague and Smallpox, with reference to the development of Variolation and Inoculation. Some contemporary diseases of note such as Tuberculosis (TB) (including Multidrug-resistant TB - MDR TB and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis -XDR TB, Ebola and Zika.

Finally some points regarding prevention. Approx. 50mins.