RIVM international newsletter Edition 4, 15 december 2022 |
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Pandemics, Conflicts, Climate Change: New roles and challenges for NPHIs | | Many national public health institutes (NPHIs) were present at the 2022 IANPHI Annual Meeting in Stockholm from 30 November to 2 December. The meeting was hosted by the Public Health Agency of Sweden. NPHIs shared their experiences, initiatives and lessons learned. Mariken Leurs, head of the RIVM Centre for Health and Society, presented the work of RIVM’s behavioural unit that was set up at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. She hosted a session on behavioural science and its added value during the pandemic and beyond. All meeting resources are available on the IANPHI website. | | Key persons should be involved in policy for pandemics | | RIVM advises government authorities to involve ‘key persons’ in formulating policy for current and future pandemics. These key persons could include professionals as well as volunteers who play an active role in education, healthcare, sports, arts and culture, or social work. Results from RIVM research show that these individuals played a key role in ensuring an ongoing focus on social well-being and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the limitations. Read more | Initial response to Safety Board report on COVID-19 crisis | The Dutch Safety Board (OVV) has published its report ‘Approach to the COVID-19 crisis - Part 2: September 2020 to July 2021’. The report also includes recommendations for RIVM. RIVM believes that it is essential to reflect on and learn from the COVID-19 crisis. We will examine the Safety Board report and provide a response. The recommendation addressed RIVM concerns about drawing up ‘rules of procedure’ for the Outbreak Management Team (OMT). Read more
| Mental health of young people shows minor recovery | | Young people (12-25 years) in the Netherlands have fewer mental health symptoms compared to the previous research round in June 2022. This is evidenced by the latest quarterly research update (September 2022) from the Network for Health Research in Disasters: GOR Network. The participants felt somewhat less lonely and had less perceived stress. The percentage of young people who had suicidal thoughts dropped from 16% to 13%. Knowledge on the impact of COVID-19 on physical and mental health is compiled in the Integrated Health Monitor COVID-19. Read more. | COVID-19 vaccination estimated to have prevented about 88 thousand hospital admissions in just over one year | | COVID-19 vaccinations prevented many hospital admissions in the Netherlands. According to a conservative estimate by RIVM, nearly 88,000 hospital admissions were prevented in just over one year. RIVM analysed the period between 2 August 2021 and 30 August 2022. Read more | Effectiveness of COVID-19 repeat vaccination autumn 2022: risk of hospital and ICU admission nearly 3 times lower for over-60s | In the period from 3 October to14 November 2022, the risk of hospital admission for people over 60 who received the repeat vaccination against COVID-19 in the autumn round was more than 2.5 times lower than for people who did not receive this vaccination, but were eligible to do so. The risk of ICU admission for people over 60 with a repeat vaccination in autumn 2022 was more than 2.5 times lower than for people who had had at least one previous vaccination. Read more.
| Preventing and controlling infectious diseases | | Vaccination was one of the ways to control the outbreak of monkeypox in the summer of 2022 by limiting transmission of the virus. People in the Netherlands are no longer invited to get vaccinated and combat this outbreak. However, second vaccinations are still being administered. Up to and including 11 November 2022, 17,936 first and 11,073 second monkeypox vaccinations were administered in the Netherlands. Read more. | Sustained avian flu outbreak is the most remarkable 2021 outbreak discussed in Zoonoses Report | | The outbreak of the H5N1 variant of avian flu was the most remarkable outbreak in 2021. In October of that year, the Netherlands experienced the start of the biggest outbreak of avian flu since 2003. This is one of the observations in the Zoonoses Report, an annual publication of RIVM and the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). Read more. | | Nationwide study into chlamydia and gonorrhoea | | RIVM launched a nationwide study into chlamydia and gonorrhoea. These are the most common reported sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the Netherlands. Through this study, RIVM aims to gain a better insight into the prevalence of these STIs among people aged 16 to 34 years. Read more. | National Immunisation Programme (NIP): new decline in number of reported cases of disease in 2021 | | The NIP Surveillance Report outlines the situation in the Netherlands with respect to the 12 infectious diseases for which vaccines are offered under the NIP. In 2021, fewer people contracted diseases for which vaccines are offered under the NIP than before the coronavirus pandemic. This is very likely largely due to the impact of the coronavirus measures, such as social distancing and hand-washing. Read more. | | Safe, clean and healthy environment | Limited impact of incorrect data used for list of top 100 ammonia emitters | | In 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. This analysis, conducted with the support of experts at Wageningen University & Research and Statistics Netherlands, found that the impact was limited. Read more. | Safe working practices: RIVM creates list of 1,400 substances without European occupational exposure limit for health purposes | | RIVM compiled a list of 1,400 hazardous substances for which the European Commission has not yet set an occupational exposure limit. European occupational exposure limits ensure employee safety and uniform regulations. EU member states are required to implement these occupational exposure limits. Based on this list, RIVM will advise the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) regarding the substances for which it is advisable to set European limit values. Read more. | PFAS levels in drinking water from river water need to be brought down | | RIVM advises reducing PFAS concentrations in drinking water in parts of the Netherlands in the coming years. This concerns drinking water produced from river water. In a recent study by RIVM, PFAS concentrations exceeded the threshold advised by RIVM in over half of the measurements of this drinking water. For drinking water from groundwater, this was the case for 1 in 10 measurements. These concentrations need to be brought down to prevent excessive PFAS intake from drinking water. Tap water is still safe to drink. Read more. | | European overview of nitrogen monitoring in water | | At the behest of the European Parliament, RIVM formulated a report on how EU member states are dealing with European regulations on nitrogen in water (nitrate). The European Parliament Committee on Petitions (PETI) approached RIVM based on the experience the institute has from projects such as the Minerals Policy Monitoring Programme and the Horizon2020 project FAIRWAY. Read more. | NS Dutch Railways did not adequately protect employees from exposure to chromium (VI) | | Employees of NS Dutch Railways may have been exposed to chromium (VI) between 1970 and 2020. Although it is not known exactly how often or how much this occurred, it is reasonable to assume that NS employees who were exposed to chromium (VI) may develop certain medical conditions. The RIVM study also showed that NS did not always adequately protect its employees in accordance with the applicable rules for occupational health and safety. Read more. | New calculation method reveals environmental impact of healthcare sector | | Climate change has a major impact on health and the environment. The converse is also true, as the healthcare sector is a major contributor to emissions, pollution and waste. Upon request by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, RIVM developed a method to investigate the impact of the Dutch healthcare sector on the environment and the climate. For the first time, this method also pays attention to aspects beyond the impact on climate change, extending the focus to impacts that are relevant for the circular economy and biodiversity. Read more. | | Healthcare and healthy lifestyle | Factsheet: Reducing the attractiveness of e-liquids to youth | | Over the last several years, e-cigarettes have become increasingly popular among young people. But electronic cigarettes are addictive and harmful, and their flavours make them attractive. The Dutch National Prevention Agreement aims to achieve a smoke-free generation by 2040. As adults and young people especially like sweet and fruity flavours, e-cigarette use could be discouraged by banning such flavours. RIVM developed a factsheet that describes a proposal for a restrictive list of 16 flavourings to be allowed as e-liquid ingredients. With these flavourings, only e-liquids with a tobacco flavour can be produced. The ban on e-liquid flavours other than tobacco will come into effect in 2023. Read more. | | New WHO Collaborating Centre hosted by RIVM on Life Course and Health | | WHO has designated RIVM as a WHO Collaborating Centre on Life Course and Health. The Collaborating Centre will support the WHO by contributing to knowledge and research on healthy ageing over the life course. People are growing older all over the world. The United Nations declared 2021 – 2030 the ‘Decade of Healthy Ageing’. According to the WHO, this initiative is urgently needed to ensure that older people can fulfil their potential in good health, dignity and equality and in a healthy environment. Read more. | Cancer screening programmes now more accessible to transgender and intersex persons | | Since October 2022, is it has become easier for transgender and intersex persons to take part in cervical cancer screening and breast cancer screening. Transgender and intersex persons with a uterus and/or breast tissue can register with the population screening programme. They only need to register once. They will then be automatically invited to take part in both screening programmes. Read more. | | WHO Collaborating Centre for Nutrition develops e-learning on 24-hour urine analyses | | At the request of WHO, RIVM's WHO Collaborating Centre for Nutrition has developed an e-learning module on 24-hour urine analyses. The e-learning module assists countries in preparing for 24h urine collection for nutritional status surveys, for example for assessing salt and iodine intakes. Read more. | Nearly one quarter of the Dutch population suffers from stomach, liver and/or bowel problems | In 2019, nearly one in four people in the Netherlands had visited their general practitioner for stomach, liver and/or bowel problems of a more or less serious nature. This amounts to more than 3.8 million people. In 2011, this number was 3.4 million. This became evident from a study carried out by RIVM that was commissioned by the Dutch Stomach, Liver and Bowel Foundation. Read more. | |
