Adequate preparations by the government and by citizens can help mitigate the consequences of a future pandemic or other disaster. However, a study by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) has shown that people in the Netherlands are not making these preparations (pandemic preparedness).

Reported cases of pneumonia among people infected with Legionella bacteria (legionellosis) more than doubled in the Netherlands over the course of ten years. Legionellosis cases reported annually rose from 180 in 2013 to 484 in 2022, rising to a peak of 555 reported cases in 2021.

In 2023, the 3 population screening programmes for cancer revealed cancer or precancerous abnormalities in more than 27,000 people. This is evident from the monitoring reports on the population screening programmes for colorectal cancer, cervical cancer and breast cancer.

People in the lowest socio-economic group are less likely to rate their oral health as ‘good’ (66%) than people in the highest socio-economic group (80%). There are other differences between these groups as well, including in the number of annual visits to the dentist or dental hygienist.

It is October and seasonal respiratory infections are on the rise. In autumn and winter, there is an increase in people who are coughing and sneezing. Various viruses or bacteria can cause a respiratory infection.

Many people who report having long-term COVID-19 symptoms are unable to fully participate in society. This is a key finding from the twelfth quarterly research update from the Network for Health Research in Disasters (GOR Network).

In October or November, many people will receive a new invitation to get the flu vaccine. The flu vaccine protects people who, because of their age or medical condition, are more likely to become ill or seriously ill from flu.

More and more tiny bits of plastic are ending up in the environment. The main sources of these microplastics are tyre erosion, plastic waste and plastic granules used as an industrial raw material. This is the outcome of a study conducted by RIVM.

For the first time since 2016, the Netherlands saw a reduction in the number of foodborne infections in 2023 compared to the year before. The number of outbreaks decreased from 1,173 in 2022 to 911 in 2023. The number of people who became ill decreased from 4,505 to 3,500.