News | RIVM

Predicting who will experience symptoms after Lyme disease remains challenging

Each year, approximately 27,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease. For most, the symptoms disappear after treatment with antibiotics. Unfortunately, 25% of those treated have chronic symptoms, such as fatigue, concentration disorders or pain.

Number of Lyme disease diagnoses remains high

In 2021, the number of Lyme disease diagnoses with a red ring or rash– known as an erythema migrans, or EM – remained as high as in the previous survey in 2017. GPs diagnosed 25,600 patients with a red ring or rash caused by the Lyme bacteria.

RIVM formulates criteria for R&D of sustainable pharmaceuticals

As part of an international research project, RIVM has formulated criteria for R&D of sustainable new pharmaceuticals. These GREENER criteria are an important first step to develop pharmaceuticals that do not impact the environment..

New test for Lyme disease is not reliable

To determine whether someone has Lyme disease, doctors in the Netherlands often use antibody tests. For some time now, so-called cellular tests have been available on the market.

Verschillende commerciële laboratoria gebruiken zogeheten cellulaire testen voor Lyme. Helaas zijn niet betrouwbaar.

Ten years of Tick Radar 80,000 tick bite reports; chances of being bitten highest in Drenthe

After recording 80,000 tick bites in 10 years via Tekenradar.nl, we now know that you are most likely to be bitten by a tick in Drenthe. Quickly removing the tick halves the chance of contracting Lyme disease.

Safety of materials and products already starts at the design phase

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management aims to ensure that all new materials and technological developments are safe in 2050.

Onderzoeker met veiligheidsbril bekijkt preparaat

Spread of tick-borne encephalitis virus in the Netherlands

Every year about 1.5 million ticks bite someone in the Netherlands, especially between March and October. Most people will not get sick of that.

Towards a sustainable, healthy future for everyone: EU project INHERIT offers policy solutions

Today, on 10 December a policy toolkit will be presented at the final conference of the European four-year research project INHERIT.

Biosafety and Biosecurity on the Global Health Security Agenda

Since 2018, the Netherlands leads the way in the field of "Biosafety and Biosecurity" within the international Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA).

Global Infectious Disease Control hampered by the CBD Nagoya Protocol

So far, none of the models used by international networks of biobanks to arrange the legal responsibility under the CBD-Nagoya protocol works efficiently.