Vaccination coverage for vaccinations in the Dutch National Vaccination Program (NIP) decreased slightly by about half a percent for the third consecutive year.

Since May 2015, there has been a Zika virus outbreak in South and Central America, including the Caribbean. The Zika virus can cause birth defects, including microcephaly (small head size).

An increasing number of clients tested at a Dutch STI clinic for a sexually transmitted infection (STI) is diagnosed with gonorrhoea, syphilis and chlamydia.

There is a large international outbreak currently of hepatitis A, mostly among gay and bisexual men. In several European countries more than 1,000 patients have been reported.

People who live near poultry farms and goat farms suffer from pneumonia more often. In the area surveyed, every year about 1650 people per 100,000 residents get pneumonia.

The National Heat Plan became active in the Netherlands on June 19th. This means that it is necessary to take preventive health measures for vulnerable groups.

The concentrations of the 43 most important greenhouse gases are at unprecedented, record-high levels compared to the last higher than ever in the past 800,000 years.

RIVM proposes water quality standards for three drugs in surface water: carbamazepine (epilepsy), metoprolol (heart disease) and metformin (diabetes).

Uncertainty still remains over the safety of the nanomaterial SAS in food. Food additive E551 consists of ‘synthetic amorphous silica’ (SAS) and is applied as an anti-caking agent.

The Central Government Real Estate Agency has awarded the contract to build new premises for two knowledge institutes - RIVM and the MEB - to StruktonHurks.