Synergies in community and institutional public health emergency preparedness for tick-borne diseases in the Netherlands
As part of the process of increasing inter-sectoral preparedness for serious cross-border public health threats, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has initiated a case study project to investigate the synergies between communities affected by serious public health threats and the institutions (both health- and non-health-related) mandated to prepare for and respond to them.
Executive Summary
Affected communities are increasingly recognised as key resources that can be utilised during public health emergencies, and that the concerns and experiences of ordinary people should be harnessed as an important part of the response. It is important to understand how and the extent to which institutions in the health and relevant nonhealth sectors can collaborate in such community-oriented work.
ECDC has initiated a case study project to investigate the synergies between communities affected by serious public health threats and the institutions. Two EU countries, Spain and the Netherlands, were selected for inclusion in the case study project.
The present report is concerned with the emerging infection of tick-borne encephalitis in the Netherlands — the two first endemic cases occurring in July 2016 — in the larger context of a widespread and increasing incidence of lyme borreliosis.