RIVM collaborates with many international organisations in the field of infectious disease control. For example, with the WHO, the ECDC and other international public health institutes.

 

Collaboration with the ECDC

RIVM is the national point of contact for the ECDC and participates in European surveillance programmes for infectious diseases, such as the surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (EARS-Net), influenza (flu) and food-related infections. For certain pathogens transmitted by vectors such as ticks, mosquitoes, midges and sand flies, and food-borne pathogens (such as Salmonella and viruses), the European Commission has appointed RIVM as an European Reference Laboratory (EURL) for public health. RIVM also participates in European research projects in the fields of new diagnostic testing, pandemic preparedness and outbreak detection. This is often done based on the One Health approach. RIVM provides training, knowledge transfer, and capacity building.

Collaboration with the WHO

RIVM coordinates Collaborating Centres for the WHO, which support various WHO activities. International parties collaborate in this regard in areas including smallpox, pathogens in food, antimicrobial resistance and water. RIVM provides laboratory expertise and support during international outbreaks, for example, by providing reference determinations, confirming diagnostics or supplying samples.

More information about collaboration with ECDC and in other European partnerships

More information on international collaborations for infectious disease controle with the WHO