News | RIVM

Safety of materials and products already starts at the design phase

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management aims to ensure that all new materials and technological developments are safe in 2050.

Onderzoeker met veiligheidsbril bekijkt preparaat

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

Microplastics in paint can cause problems in the environment

Companies and organisations in the paint sector are aware that microplastics can cause problems as these particles end up in the environment where they persist and may be harmful to plants and anim

Largest drop in number of tuberculosis cases in the Netherlands in fifty years

Last year, the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in the Netherlands fell sharply. The 17% drop is the largest in fifty years. In 2020, 623 cases were notified compared to 754 in 2019.

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.

A decrease in the number of tuberculosis patients in the Netherlands

In 2019, the number of people with tuberculosis (TB) in the Netherlands decreased to 759. This is 5 per cent less than in 2018, when 797 were reported.

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.

Measures against polluting microplastics from garments

When garments made from synthetic materials wear, due to use and washing, microplastic fibres are released. Wastewater treatment plants remove 50 to 90 per cent of these microplastic fibres.

Animatie waarin je persoon ziet lopen op gras, met daaronder de bodem met daaronder waterlaag met zwemmende vissen

Slightly more tuberculosis patients in the Netherlands

The key figures of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) show that in 2018 there were 806 TB patients in the Netherlands. This is 3 percent more than in 2017 (784).

Strong decline of tuberculosis in the Netherlands

The number of tuberculosis (TB) patients in the Netherlands decreased considerably in 2017. From 887 patients in 2016 to 787 in 2017.