Synergies in community and institutional public health emergency preparedness for tick-borne diseases in the Netherlands A case study on tick-borne encephalitis and lyme borreliosis

The aim of this case study project is to identify enablers and barriers for community and institutional synergies related to preparedness and control of tick-borne diseases. The report focuses on an emerging tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) infection in the Netherlands— where the two first endemic cases occurred in July 2016 — in the context of the widespread and increasing incidence of lyme borreliosis. Specifically, the study aims to: - identify good practices and patterns of cooperation between affected communities and the official institutions mandated to address tick-borne diseases such as TBE and lyme borreliosis; - identify inter-sectoral collaboration between health and non-health-related sectors with regard to tick-borne diseases, such as TBE; - identify model community engagement action for other EU countries.