Blood spot test extended as of 1 January 2017 to include two more disorders As of 1 January 2017, the disorders alpha and beta thalassaemia will be added to the neonatal blood spot (‘heel prick’) screening programme.
WHO’s first ever global estimates of foodborne diseases: children under five account for almost one third of deaths Almost one third (30%) of all deaths from foodborne diseases are in children under the age of five years, despite the fact that they make up only 9% of the global population.
Measles epidemic and Salmonella outbreak cost nearly six million euros The most recent measles epidemic and outbreak of Salmonella Thomson due to smoked salmon have cost 3.9 and 1.7 million euros, respectively.
Newborn heel prick screening starts on St Eustatius and Saba On 26 October 2015, heel prick screening started for all newborns on St Eustatius and Saba.
More people fall sick despite the decrease of outbreaks of food-borne infections In 2014, fewer outbreaks of food-borne infections and food poisoning occurred in relation to previous years.
RIVM researchers win best paper award of the journal Risk Analysis RIVM researchers Arie Havelaar and Arno Swart received the prestigious Best Paper Award 2014 of the Society for Risk Analysis.
Possibly more cases of gastroenteritis caused by antacids In recent years the Netherlands has witnessed an increase in the number of cases of gastroenteritis caused by the Campylobacter bacterium.
No more complementary vaccinations against measles for children aged six months The measles epidemic, the first case of which occurred in the Netherlands in May 2013, is coming to an end.
Teenage girl dies after measles infection Last weekend, a 17-year-old girl from the province of Zeeland (The Netherlands) has died of complications after a measles infection. She was not vaccinated against the disease.
Extra measles vaccinations for risk groups Some areas of the Netherlands where families for religious reasons chose not to get their babies vaccinated are now reporting cases of measles, and it is expected that the number of cases will incr