隨著全球氣候異變，病媒生態環境受到嚴重干擾，由病媒所媒介的熱帶性疾病近來已有明顯升高的趨勢。台灣地處環熱帶圈的熱帶與亞熱帶區，氣候高溫高濕，極適合多類病媒繁殖，包括蚊、蠅、蚤、蜱、蝨和蟑螂等。由於這些疾病的傳播會造成流行而威脅人類健康，甚而威脅牲畜飼養等經濟活動。因此，本課程將完整介紹病媒之生物學、微生物特性、病原體媒介方式、疾病特徵和全球趨勢等。本課程透過指定課本和補充期刊選讀，讓同學了解蟲媒全球傳染病概況。學期中將安排專家演講、指定領域期刊選讀和課堂討論，以強化同學對國際間重要新興傳染病的發展近況的認識。
The ecology of arthropod vectors has been severely disturbed by global climate change. Cases of vector-borne tropical diseases increase significantly in recent years. Taiwan lays across tropical and subtropical region. The warm and humid environment provides ideal habitats for various disease vectors, such as mosquitoes, flies, fleas, ticks, lice, and cockroaches. The vectors not only transmit human diseases but also threaten livestock breeding and farming. This course will provide a complete introduction to vector biology, the etiological agents of diseases, the routes of transmission, disease presentations, and global trends, etc. Students will gain knowledge about the general situation of vector-borne diseases in the world via the required text, supplementary readings and resources, and lectures. Besides, special lectures will be given by invited scholars. Selected journal articles in designated fields and classroom discussions will be arranged to strengthen students' understanding of the development of important emerging infectious diseases.