Stage 1 Biology

Investigation Folio Task: Science as a Human Endeavour Task

Topic 2: Infectious Diseases

Introduction and Purpose of task:

Despite the advances in medical treatments, infectious diseases worldwide are still the leading
cause of death of children and adolescents, and one of the leading causes in adults. Three of
the top ten causes of death, or sixteen percent of all deaths each year, are from infectious
diseases. Most of these are attributable to preventable or treatable diseases such as
diarrhoea, lower respiratory infections, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. Most of the people
who contract infectious diseases are from developing countries where access to the latest
treatments or to medicines that prevent infection is limited, often due to cost and availability.

In this task you will have the opportunity to investigate the current vaccination policies of
various countries in conjunction with the recent outbreaks of measles. An article has been
provided for you to prompt your research and direct your investigation. You must then link your
findings to the SHE Key Concepts.

Your research and article/report should have a focus on at least one (maximum of two) of the
key concepts of Science as a Human Endeavour listed below:

Communication and Collaboration

 Science is a global enterprise that relies on clear communication, international
conventions, and review and verification of results.
 Collaboration between scientists, governments, and other agencies is often required in
scientific research and enterprise.

Development
 Development of complex scientific models and/or theories often requires a wide range
of evidence from many sources and across disciplines.
 New technologies improve the efficiency of scientific procedures and data collection
and analysis. This can reveal new evidence that may modify or replace models, theories,
and processes.

Influence
 Advances in scientific understanding in one field can influence and be influenced by
other areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
 The acceptance and use of scientific knowledge can be influences by social, economic,
cultural, and ethical considerations.

Application and Limitation

 Scientific knowledge, understanding, and inquiry can enable scientists to develop
solutions, make discoveries, design action for sustainability, evaluate economic, social,
and environmental impacts, offer valid explanations, and make reliable predications.
 The use of scientific knowledge may have beneficial or unexpected consequences; this
requires monitoring, assessment, and evaluation of risk, and provides opportunities for
innovation.
 Science informs public debate and is in turn influenced by public debate; at times, there
may be complex, unanticipated variables or insufficient data that may limit possible
conclusions.
Part A: Article Analysis
Read the provided article and produce a 100-word statement about how you will use the
information and the context to begin your research. You may present the article annotated
(highlighted and with comments).

Part B: Information Search and Planning

Use the internet and other sources of information to do research into how vaccinations have
altered the spread of infectious disease. Consider the economic, ethical, environmental, and
social implications of disease control.
Investigate the biology of the measles and the recent outbreaks in the United States and in
Australia.

Part C: Report
Produce a report of your findings that outlines the biological background and relevance to
society, as well as the links to at least one of the SHE key concepts.
The format of your report could be:
 A written report providing an expert’s point of view
 An article for a scientific publication
 An analysis of a new development in a field or a concern about a development
 An oral or multimodal scientific presentation

Your report must include the following:

 An introduction, which links the focus of your analysis to the SHE key concept(s) chosen.
 Relevant biological concepts and background information (this should support your
report but not be the focus).
 An explanation of the influence of vaccinations and/or the ethical, cultural, economic,
political and social considerations.
 A conclusion. You must include how the SHE key concept(s) has been addressed.
 In text referencing and bibliography using Harvard Referencing.

Assessment Conditions
Due: Wednesday, June 5th (Week 6)
Final drafts submitted by: Friday, 31st May (Week 5)
Word count: maximum of 1000 words (Part C)
Performance Standards
Investigation, Analysis and Evaluation
A Critically deconstructs a problem and designs a
logical, coherent, and detailed biological
investigation.
Obtains, records, and represents data, using
appropriate conventions and formats accurately
and highly effectively.
Systematically analyses and interprets data and
evidence to formulate logical conclusions with
detailed justification.
Critically and logically evaluates procedures and
their effect on data.
B Logically deconstructs a problem and designs a
well-considered and clear biological
investigation.
Obtains, records, and represents data, using
appropriate conventions and formats mostly
accurately and effectively.
Logically analyses and interprets data and
evidence to formulate suitable conclusions with
reasonable justification.
Logically evaluates procedures and their effect
on data.
C Deconstructs a problem and designs a
considered and generally clear biological
investigation.
Obtains, records, and represents data, using
generally appropriate conventions and formats
with some errors but generally accurately and
effectively.
Undertakes some analysis and interpretation of
data and evidence to formulate generally
appropriate conclusions with some justification.
Evaluates procedures and some of their effect on
data.
D Prepares a basic deconstruction of a problem
and an outline of a deconstruction and biological
investigation.
Obtains, records, and represents data, using
conventions and formats inconsistently, with
occasional accuracy and effectiveness.
Describes data and undertakes some basic
interpretation to formulate a basic conclusion.
Attempts to evaluate procedures or suggest an
effect on data.
E Attempts a simple deconstruction of a problem
and a procedure for a biological investigation.
Attempts to record and represent some data,
with limited accuracy or effectiveness.
Attempts to describe results and/or interpret data
to formulate a basic conclusion.
Acknowledges that procedures affect data.
Knowledge and Application
Demonstrates deep and broad knowledge and
understanding of a range of biological concepts.
Applies biological concepts highly effectively in
new and familiar contexts.
Critically explores and understands in depth the
interaction between science and society.
Communicates knowledge and understanding of
biology coherently, with highly effective use of
appropriate terms, conventions, and
representations.
Demonstrates some depth and breadth of
knowledge and understanding of a range of
biological concepts.
Applies biological concepts mostly effectively in
new and familiar contexts.
Logically explores and understands in some
depth the interaction between science and
society.
Communicates knowledge and understanding of
biology mostly coherently, with effective use of
appropriate terms, conventions, and
representations.
Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of a
general range of biological concepts.
Applies biological concepts generally effectively
in new or familiar contexts.
Explores and understands aspects of the
interaction between science and society.
Communicates knowledge and understanding of
biology generally effectively, using some
appropriate terms, conventions, and
representations.
Demonstrates some basic knowledge and partial
understanding of biological concepts.
Applies some biological concepts in familiar
contexts.
Partially explores and recognises aspects of the
interaction between science and society.
Communicates basic biological information,
using some appropriate terms, conventions,
and/or representations.
Demonstrates limited recognition and awareness
of biological concepts.
Attempts to apply biological concepts in familiar
contexts.
Attempts to explore and identify an aspect of the
interaction between science and society.
Attempts to communicate information about
biology.
NEWS RELEASE 16-MAY-2019

Current vaccination policies may not be enough

to prevent measles resurgence
BIOMED CENTRAL

Current vaccination policies may not be sufficient to achieve and maintain measles elimination and prevent
future resurgence in Australia, Ireland, Italy, the UK and the US, according to a study published in the open
access journal BMC Medicine.

To successfully achieve and maintain measles elimination in these countries in the medium to long term,
further country-specific immunisation efforts may be needed in addition to current strategies. Measles
elimination has been defined as the absence of endemic measles transmission in a region or other defined
geographic area for twelve months or longer.

A team of researchers at the Bruno Kessler Foundation and Bocconi University, Italy used a computer model to
simulate the evolution of measles immunity between 2018 and 2050 in seven countries; Australia, Ireland, Italy,
Singapore, South Korea, the UK and the US. The authors focused their analysis on countries with a routine two-
dose measles vaccination programme and a high primary school involvement rate, but with different
demographics and vaccination histories. The aim was to evaluate the effect of possible adjustments to existing
immunisation strategies, and to estimate the proportion of people who may remain susceptible to measles in
high-income countries over time.

The authors' projections up until 2050 suggest that if current vaccination policies remain unchanged, the
proportion of the population susceptible to measles would only remain below 7.5% in Singapore and South
Korea, two countries which had high vaccination coverage in the past. Previous research estimated that the
proportion of the population that does not have immunity (maximum susceptibility) needs to be 7.5% or less for
measles to be eliminated.

In 2018, the proportion of the population susceptible to measles infection in the countries under study ranged
from 3.7% in the UK to 9.3% in Italy (the only country where the proportion was found to be higher than 7.5%).
In Australia, Ireland, the UK and the US, vaccination from routine programmes would need to continuously
cover more than 95% of the population to keep the proportion of susceptible individuals below 7.5% until 2050.

Dr. Filippo Trentini, the first author said: "In recent years, we've witnessed a resurgence of measles cases even
in countries where, according to World Health Organisation guidelines, elimination should already have been
achieved. This resurgence is due to suboptimal vaccination coverage levels. In Italy, where measles incidents
rates were among the highest, the government has made measles vaccination compulsory for children before
they enter primary school. We investigated the potential of this and other policies to reinforce immunisation
rates in seven high-income countries."

Co-author Dr. Stefano Merler added: "Our results suggest that most of the countries we have studied would
strongly benefit from the introduction of compulsory vaccination at school entry in addition to current
immunisation programmes. In particular, we found that this strategy would allow the UK, Ireland and the US to
reach stable herd immunity levels in the next decades, which means that a sufficiently high proportion of
individuals are immune to the disease to avoid future outbreaks. To be effective, mandatory vaccination at
school entry would need to cover more than 40% of the population."

In Italy, the fraction of susceptible individuals by 2050 is projected to be 10%, even if coverage for routine
vaccination reaches 100%, and additional vaccination strategies targeting both children at school entry and
adults may be needed to achieve elimination.