RIVM European Reference Lab for vector-borne infections The European Commission (EC) has designated RIVM as the current European Reference Lab (EURL) for vector-borne viral pathogens.
Menno de Jong appointed director of RIVM Centre for Infectious Disease Control Starting 1 May 2024, Professor Menno de Jong will take on the role of director of RIVM’s Centre for Infectious Disease Control (CIb) . He succeeds Jaap van Dissel, who is retiring in April 2024.
Nitrogen and nature approach shows progress towards 2030, but targets are out of reach The nitrogen and nature measures that the government has implemented since 2021 are expected to make a positive contribution to the future quality of nature. The average exceedance of the critical loads for nitrogen deposition will decrease by a third up to 2030.
Dutch population’s salt and sugar intakes go down, fibre intake goes up On average, the sugar and salt intakes of the Dutch population have gone down, while its fibre intake has gone up. This is apparent from the latest Dutch National Food Consumption Survey (Voedselconsumptiepeiling, VCP) figures.
New version of NEVO with updated data on meat and dairy substitutes Today, RIVM will publish the new version of the Dutch Food Composition Database (Nederlands Voedingsstoffenbestand, NEVO). This contains information on the composition of more than 2,300 foods.
New Zoonoses Report out now: avian flu most notable outbreak in 2022 Throughout 2022, the Netherlands faced a persistent avian flu outbreak, affecting 76 poultry farms. The virus also infected numerous wild birds and various wild mammals. These findings are presented in the Zoonoses Report, an annual publication issued jointly by RIVM and the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).
Natura 2000 sites: nitrogen deposition on the decline, but still too high for much of nature The amount of nitrogen deposited on nature reserves that are vulnerable to this is falling. However, this decline is not sufficient to meet the targets the Dutch government has set itself. This is the conclusion of the RIVM monitoring report ‘Nitrogen deposition in Natura 2000 areas 2023’.
Participation rates in cancer population screening programmes continue to decline The number of participants in the population screening programmes for breast cancer, cervical cancer and colorectal cancer continues to decline. This decline has been going on for years, reaching its lowest point in 2020.
Metabolic disorder ALD added to newborn blood spot screening Since 1 October, the metabolic disorder adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) has been added to the Dutch newborn blood spot screening. From now on, the blood of newborn boys will also be tested for this disorder. ALD in boys can be treated if it is detected in time.
Spring sunshine forecast: enjoy, but do not get a sunburn According to the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, the sun will be shining frequently the upcoming days. If you are planning to go out and enjoy the sunshine, please do so responsibly.