Virus mutations were also detected in Austria

South African and British virus variants have also been detected in Austria.

AUSTRIA. Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens) reported at a press conference Monday afternoon that one case of the South African variant and four cases of the British variant of the coronavirus had been found in Austria. With the start of vaccination there is the prospect of a change in the pandemic, but the next few months will be difficult, Anschober said in the introduction. On the one hand because there is still time for everyone to be vaccinated and on the other hand because of the mutation of the new virus that was detected for the first time in Great Britain. Shortly before Christmas there was a political alarm call from the British government.

British virus variant for the first time on December 18

Ages’ boss Franz Allerberger explained that the English strain of the virus had 17 different mutations. One strand of the South African variant and four individuals with the British variant were also found in Austria. The South African mutation was detected on December 6 in a 30-year-old Austrian after a vacation. The British strain was discovered at the airport in an infected Austrian who arrived in Austria on December 21. Its course was extremely smooth. However, for the first time, the UK variant was detected in a twelve-year-old boy after a flight from Britain on December 18. There were also two cases of nine and ten year old siblings who were both Slovak citizens. So far, these are the only cases that have contracted the new mutations.

New virus mutation every two weeks

Andreas Bergthaler from CEMM (Austrian Academy of Sciences Research Center for Molecular Medicine) emphasized that the virus is constantly changing. On average, a new mutation occurs every two weeks. This is not unusual. “Viruses have to constantly mutate,” Bergthaler said. You know the variant is more contagious. However, there are no changes in the course of the disease, but there are indications of an increase in virus titers (= higher viral load), says Bergthaler.

Prolonged closure should not affect schools