Delays in follow-up program Livestock Farming and Health of Local Residents

The follow-up studies of the Livestock and Resident Health (VGO) III research program have been more delayed due to the COVID-19 crisis than had initially been estimated. The realistic estimate now is that the entire VGO-III study can only be completed by the end of 2024. Minister Schouten of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality and Minister Van Ark of Medical Care and Sport write this to the House of Representatives.

The COVID-19 pandemic creates an unstable research environment, which means that some studies are now unable to proceed. Much more time appears to be needed to find enough patients for the study of pneumonia around goat farms.

In a general sense, there are currently far fewer patients with pneumonia seen by general practitioners throughout the Netherlands than in previous years in the same period. This probably has to do with the COVID-19 measures. In order to obtain sufficient data, approximately 800 patients must participate in the study, and only 15 patients have now been included.

The sub-study among goat farmers and employees of goat farms started at the end of 2020. Currently, the fieldwork cannot proceed due to the tightened COVID-19 measures. Delays also occur with the laboratory activities.

Given the complexity of the research, the analysis, interpretation and reporting of the laboratory results will not be completed before the end of 2024. It is possible that certain parts are known earlier; these will therefore be communicated as partial reports, but the realistic estimate is that the entire VGO-III study will be completed by the end of 2024.

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