Vaccine manufacturer employee contracts poliovirus An employee of vaccine manufacturer Bilthoven Biologicals (BBio) has been infected with a poliovirus. The virus was found in a stool sample provided by the employee. The employee concerned is now in isolation.
Limited impact of incorrect data used for list of top 100 ammonia emitters On 1 November 2022, RIVM announced that its list of top-100 ammonia emitters was compiled using incorrect emission factors for some types of livestock housing. RIVM has investigated whether the erroneous data had also been used in other RIVM products.
Annual report ‘Tuberculosis in the Netherlands’ for 2021: slight increase in number of TB patients In 2021, the number of tuberculosis (TB) patients in the Netherlands rose slightly compared to the preceding year: up to 680 TB patients from 622 in 2020. However, the 2021 number was lower than the number for 2019 (754 patients).
Risk assessment method for gene drives RIVM and partner organisations from England, Germany and Belgium have developed a method to assess the risks of gene drives in laboratories.
Dutch health similar to health in neighbouring countries The health of the Dutch population is broadly in line with that of our neighbours.
Director-general André van der Zande receives Royal honours On Thursday, June 28th, our departing director-general André van der Zande received a Royal decoration from the Dutch Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport, Hugo de Jonge.
Antibiotics are often used correctly, but improvements are still possible General practitioners in the Netherlands are prescribing antibiotics less frequently. No drop has been observed in hospitals.
Frequently used cancer medicines do not harm plants and animals in water Most cytostatics (medication for chemotherapy), tumor specific immunotherapy and hormone therapy don’t harm plants and animals in surface water.
Vaccination rate again drops slightly, HPV vaccination rate drops considerably The vaccination rate for vaccines included in the National Immunisation Programme has dropped slightly by about 1 percent.
More people are tested for STIs The number of people who have been tested for a sexually transmitted infection (STI) went up in 2017. This is the case both at the Sexual Health Centres and at the General Practitioner.