EPIDEMIOLOGY

Epidemiology is a trans-disciplinary, scientific, approach to the understanding of diseases at the population level, also taking into account processes at both, the individual and ecosystem level. Epidemiology provides the input for management of epidemics that fits the requirements of a society. Such an input includes the pros and cons of various options to manage an epidemic, which enables well-considered decisions by politicians.

The CEO of DRS, Jos Frantzen, has demonstrated his skills in both, human and botanical epidemiology by, amongst others, publishing two textbooks.

Current textbooks provide a strong bio-medical view on epidemics. In this textbook, the bio-medical view is extended to a human view including insights from humanities, social sciences. This extension challenges us all the more to combine the requirement of scientic objectivity with the subjectivity inherent to human life. In addition, the bio-medical view is deepened using knowledge of botanical epidemiology with respect to ‘evolutionary dynamics of pathogens’ and ‘epidemic spread of pathogens’. Bio-medical oriented students and senior scientists are invited to reflect on the multi-dimensional, subjective, character of epidemics. Reflections that may enable appropriate, human, management of epidemics.

The textbook is intended primarily for courses epidemiology at the Masters level, or beyond, and bio-medical scientists at the post-academic level. It may also serve non-biomedical scientists involved in epidemiology.
Read sample of Epidemiology of infectious diseases

The spatial aspects of epidemics have been a largely ignored feature of plant ecology, yet an understanding of the spatial dynamics of pathogens is essential to quantifying the impact of diseases on wild plants. Moreover, it may provide valuable information for the control of human diseases. This seminal work fulfils such a role by describing the basics of botanical epidemiology within the context of plant ecology.

A variety of models are covered to estimate key parameters at both, the individual and population level of plants, with emphasis on the value of spatial-temporal models in the evolutionary dynamics of pathogens. Practical methods are presented to validate these models, thus making this book accessible to theorists and empiricists alike.
Read sample of Epidemiology and plant ecology