Expected peak in tick bite season RIVM and Wageningen University researchers expect the tick bite season to reach its peak in the next few weeks. The peak will coincide with the start of the summer holidays.
Metals from Essure sterilisation coils unlikely to be harmful to health Essure is an implant used for female sterilisation. Like many other implants, such as hip implants and stents, this implant is made of metal. It is normal for such implants to release metal particles. Essure is a small implant.
MEBI: risk of serious health complaints from Rebound HRD® inguinal hernia mesh The Dutch Reporting Centre for Adverse Effects of Medical Implants (MEBI), which is part of RIVM, has received a report about Rebound HRD® (Hernia Repair Device), an inguinal hernia mesh.
Excise duty increase affects smokers: more people attempt to quit, but more people also purchase tobacco abroad According to research by RIVM on the 2023 excise duty increase, the increased excise duty (tax) on tobacco products is having a noticeable impact on smokers' behaviour.
More unhealthy behaviour among young people; their health remains vulnerable Fewer young people aged 12 to 16 are positive about their health than in previous years. In addition, their mental health has not recovered after the COVID-19 pandemic.
295 reports of suspected side effects of implants in 2023 In 2023, 295 individuals reported one or more suspected side effects of implants to RIVM’s Dutch Reporting Centre for Adverse Effects of Medical Implants (MEBI).
Remove ticks quickly, reduce your risk of Lyme disease Ticks are active again, as shown by the increase in tick bite reports on Tekenradar.nl. Quick action is important: the faster you remove a tick after it bites you, the lower your risk of contracting Lyme disease.
RIVM recommends a standardised design for e-cigarettes to reduce e-cigarette appeal Features like a sleek design, technical add-ons such as Bluetooth, and ease of concealment are examples that make e-cigarettes attractive to young people, according to research by RIVM. That is why RIVM recommends policymakers to consider implementing a standardised design for e-cigarettes
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.