Welcome to Epidemiologic Basis for Tuberculosis Control, a course offered jointly by the Departments of Epidemiology and International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been present in the human population since antiquity. Though curable for over 50 years, tuberculosis (TB) continues to be an emerging public health threat. In the past year alone, 1.6 million people died from having active TB, and it is estimated that 2 billion are infected with the disease-causing bacteria.

By taking this course, students will have an opportunity to learn from and interact with the experts in the field. Students will cover the history of the epidemic, the devastating consequences of high HIV prevalence in areas with endemic TB infection, the emergence of new forms of drug-resistant TB, and some of the latest and most promising diagnostic tools and treatment regimens.

Dr. George W. Comstock (1915-2007) originally developed this course in 1963. The primary emphasis of the course has traditionally been a review of the important historical tuberculosis literature and student presentations of the literature. Dr. Comstock's contributions to tuberculosis epidemiology are evident in all aspects of the tuberculosis literature. In many of the course lectures, you will be alerted by an "Ask George" icon which, when clicked, will bring you to slides and/or voice recordings by Dr. Comstock discussing the tuberculosis literature.

The course format will feature lectures by leading researchers and ample time for discussion and student participation as a way to introduce students to one of the most far-reaching and serious epidemics of our time.

We hope you will join us for this session and look forward to working with you.


Jonathan Golub and Richard Chaisson

Image source: http://www.medicalarchives.jhmi.edu/sgml/comstock.html