BIOC 250 Hs: Pandemics
Black Death, small pox, tuberculosis, and the 1918 Spanish flu, are just a few of the diseases which have ravaged our species through world-wide epidemics since antiquity. What are the scientific and societal causes for these plagues? How do we and how should we confront outbreaks of modern diseases like SARS, ebola, and flu? Are we better off sealing our borders as some of our political leaders suggest, or are we better off wading into the epicenters of these diseases to treat those victims directly? What new (and old) microbes are poised to cause the next pandemic? This course will explore these topics and more through a variety of readings, film, and discussion. Prerequsite: Honors program