News | RIVM

From 1 June 2022, heel prick test also screens for muscle disease SMA, bringing number of screened diseases to 26

From 1 June 2022, the heel prick test for Dutch newborns will also screen for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). SMA is a serious hereditary muscle condition. Detecting this disease at an early stage enables early treatment.

Insufficient knowledge to protect the health of the Dutch population from climate change

The climate is changing. This process is already affecting the health of people in the Netherlands. As such, it is important to take immediate action to prepare the Netherlands and its population for climate change and to reduce the effects on health

Chromium-6 from medical implants not harmful to health

Chromium-6 from medical implants, such as hip or knee implants, does not result in severe health damage.

Even after COVID-19 crisis, social isolation continues

Even after most coronavirus measures have been discontinued, some people are still living in social isolation to avoid COVID-19 exposure.

Tailor-made information will help immigrants make decisions on taking part in screening programmes

Immigrants are relatively less likely to take part in preventive screening programmes, such as cancer screening. This is partly due to the language barrier and a lack of knowledge, according to a doctoral thesis by Nora Hamdiui.

Can healthy gut microbes protect us against antibiotic-resistant bacteria?

It is largely assumed within the scientific community that a healthy intestinal microbiome can provide resistance against the settling, growth and multiplication of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

People who work at night are more likely to get infected with coronavirus

People who occasionally or regularly work at night are 37% more likely to test positive for coronavirus than people who only work during the daytime. This is one of the conclusions of a study by the RIVM (Netherlands).

Care workers working at night wearing a facial covid protection screen

Enthusiasm and challenges when adopting a broad view of health

More and more parties in the Netherlands, including healthcare and welfare organisations, local authorities and municipal and communal healthcare services, are using so-called ‘broad health concept’.

Man in scootmobiel en vrouw zitten in een tuin

Proposal to calculate combined effects of chemicals in the environment at EU level

Current legislation for chemicals insufficiently covers the combined effects of substances on humans and the environment.