Table 2 Interviewee and FGD participant categories in Spain and the Netherlands

National level interviews

• Ministry of Agriculture, Fish, Food and Environment

• General Directorate of Public Health

• Press cabinet/Journalist

• Ministry of Health

• RIVM Centre for Infectious Disease Control (CIb)

• State Epidemiologists

• Entomologist

• Laboratories & diagnostics (RIVM)

Autonomous Community/Regional Level interviews

• Public Health Authority

• Environmental and Animal Health

• Press Cabinet or Communication to the Citizen’s Office

• Human Public Health

• Animal Public Health

• Communication to the Citizen’s Office

• Municipal Health Services (GGD)

• Forestry Service

• Amsterdam Academic Medical Center

• Agrarian Personnel Health Service (STIGAS)

• Wageningen University and Research Central Veterinary Institute

Focus Group Discussion with affected communities (Note: One or more people may have represented each category listed)

• Occupational Hazards Unit

• Emergency room clinician

• Local Human Public Health Services

• Central Human Public Health Services

• Human Public Health Emergency Team

• Veterinary Health Emergency Team

• Hiker

• Hunter

• Veterinarian (focused on hunter activity)

• Veterinarian (focused on livestock)

• Farmers

• Livestock farmer

• Natural Parks worker

• General practitioner

• Lyme patient organization representatives

• Scouting

• School representative

• Private property owner

• Children’s farm

• Campground manager

• Municipality employee

• Community green maintenance worker

• Local forester

• City Gardner

• Hunter

• Herder