Large amounts of PAHs and metals found again in IJmond in autumn 2022 In autumn 2022, RIVM once again found high levels of PAHs and metals in coarse dust particles deposited in the area around Tata Steel.
Number of tuberculosis patients in the Netherlands decreased slightly in 2022 compared to 2021 The number of people with tuberculosis (TB) in the Netherlands decreased slightly in 2022. In 2022, there were 635 TB patients in the Netherlands. This is six per cent fewer than in 2021, when there were 673 patients.
Slight increase in greenhouse gasses in 2021 In 2021, greenhouse gas emissions were 1.8% higher than the year before. This marked the first time emissions had gone up since 2016. In 2020, emissions declined by 8.8%. The 2021 increase is largely attributable to CO2 and to the cold winter.
Provisional figures on participation in the National Immunisation Programme According to RIVM’s registration system, at least 90% of babies have been vaccinated against mumps, measles and rubella (MMR).
Air quality in the Netherlands in 2021 almost the same as in 2020 In 2021, the Netherlands once again met the European limit values for nitrogen dioxide emitted at ground-level by road traffic. This was also the case for particulate matter along the roads, with the exception of a small stretch of road near Velsen.
Vaccine manufacturer employee contracts poliovirus An employee of vaccine manufacturer Bilthoven Biologicals (BBio) has been infected with a poliovirus. The virus was found in a stool sample provided by the employee. The employee concerned is now in isolation.
Annual report ‘Tuberculosis in the Netherlands’ for 2021: slight increase in number of TB patients In 2021, the number of tuberculosis (TB) patients in the Netherlands rose slightly compared to the preceding year: up to 680 TB patients from 622 in 2020. However, the 2021 number was lower than the number for 2019 (754 patients).
National Immunisation Programme: new decline in number of reported cases of disease in 2021 In 2021, fewer people contracted diseases for which vaccines are offered under the National Immunisation Programme (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.
Patient with cutaneous diphtheria in reception centre This week, a refugee from Syria was found to be infected with the diphtheria bacterium. The patient has been treated with antibiotics. The patient’s contacts have been tested and vaccinated.
Side effect reports National Immunisation Programme 2021 Last year, the Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb received 1,462 reports of possible side effects from vaccines administered under the National Immunisation Programme. As was the case in previous years, no new, disconcerting side effects have