The evolution of modern medical competencies, the slowing availability of effective antimicrobials and expanded populations of increased vulnerability pose a significant challenge to today’s public health professional in providing effective intervention and support during epidemic disease outbreak in both the local and international environment. Expanding and aging populations are driving unprecedented global urbanization and contributing to shortfalls in per capita food and water availability while human and domestic animal habitation reaches into previously isolated reservoirs of potential pathogens. This course will address some of the significant existing challenges and examine how focused and current community prevention efforts and broadly coordinated specific intervention are the key to limiting epidemic spread, mitigating community injury and preserving civil order.