Rapid diagnostic tests are not reliable The Serology Task Force of the National Coordination Centre for Testing Capacity – a partnership between RIVM, hospitals and laboratories – has collected research results on rapid diagnostic tests
Rapid and accurate contact tracing required in the coming period Now that the Cabinet is relaxing the measures to combat the novel coronavirus step by step, people will go outside more frequently. The chance of the virus spreading again will then increase.
Clear impact achieved by national measures to combat the COVID-19 epidemic To monitor the effect of the measures against the spread of the novel coronavirus, the time when reported COVID-19 patients became ill was examined.
Dutch health similar to health in neighbouring countries The health of the Dutch population is broadly in line with that of our neighbours.
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.
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.