News | RIVM

Flu epidemic seems to be emerging

More and more people in the Netherlands have the flu. The number of people with flu increased significantly last week.

Flu jab for additional groups

The flu jab is offered free of charge every year to people aged 60 years and older, and to people who are at higher risk of becoming seriously ill from the flu virus due to medical reasons

Last winter’s flu epidemic was short and mild. And then COVID-19 arrived.

The flu epidemic in the winter of 2019/2020 was mild and lasted only 5 weeks.

De griepepidemie in de winter van 2019/2020 was mild en duurde slechts 5 weken.

Mild 2018-2019 influenza epidemic

The annual influenza epidemic in the winter of 2018-2019 was less severe than the year before. Approximately 400,000 people have had the flu.

Possible health risks due to exposure to chromium-6 at tROM project Tilburg

Research by RIVM shows that the participants in the so-called tROM project, their supervisors and other people involved may have been exposed to chromium-6.

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.

Protection of Defence personnel against health risks of chromium-6 was inadequate

From 1984-2006, employees of the Dutch Ministry of Defence were exposed to chromium-6 during maintenance work.

Influenza-like Illness Incidence Is Not Reduced by Influenza Vaccination

Influenza vaccination reduces the number of influenza virus infections but not the overall number of illness.

Moderate flu season

Last winter season, the duration and severity of the influenza epidemic was moderate compared to previous years.