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.

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.

Since the 1970s, European policies to improve air quality have resulted in fewer emissions in many countries.

In 2017, concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter in most parts of the Netherlands were below European limit values.

Ozone layer depletion, air pollution and climate change need to be addressed in connection with each other.

Active Lyme disease of the central nervous system cannot be detected with an ELISpot test.

The societal costs of Lyme disease have been determined for the Netherlands for the first time. The disease appears to cost nearly EUR 20 million each year.

International air policy has shown good results in Europe: in the past 35 years the air has become cleaner. Nevertheless air pollution is still an important cause of premature death.

Lyme disease can cause a variety of complaints in patients. Laboratory tests for the disease can support medical practitioners in making a diagnosis but are not necessarily conclusive.