New test for Lyme disease is not reliable To determine whether someone has Lyme disease, doctors in the Netherlands often use antibody tests. For some time now, so-called cellular tests have been available on the market.
Many more infections, limited increase in hospital admissions In the past week, the number of people who tested positive for COVID-19 in the Netherlands increased by 64% compared to the week before that.
Current knowledge on microplastics in the soil is still inadequate A literature review carried out by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) has concluded that reliable standard techniques should be developed to analyse microplastics in the soil.
New crisis response organisation at RIVM to control future pandemics The cabinet has agreed to the proposal of Ernst Kuipers, Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport, to set up a National Functionality for Infectious Disease Control (LFI).
Flu vaccination also available for pregnant women as of this autumn Every year, people aged 60+ and people with certain medical conditions can get the free flu vaccination. On the recommendation of the Health Council of the Netherlands, the free flu vaccination will now also be made available to pregnant women.
Mental care still the most expensive of all In 2011, 19.6 billion euros was spent on the treatment of mental disorders. This amounted to 22% of the total expenditure on health and welfare during that year.
Risks of eHealth technology RIVM and Nictiz have made an overview of the risks that eHealth applications may entail and how these risks can be controlled.
Key organisations unite to improve benefit and risk assessments of vaccines Leading organisations have joined forces to launch a unique project that will pave the way for a pan-European framework for rapidly assessing and communicating the benefits and risks of vaccines.
Human and veterinary health sectors join forces for responsible use of antibiotics. Bacteria that are resistant to almost all antibiotics continue to spread across Europe. This was revealed by new figures from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
In The Spotlight: Young Researchers RIVM 'Young Researchers' present their PhD research in 4 short films which were made especially to highlight and explain their scientific research.