Category: Feature Stories

Covid vaccines work very well against severe courses and deaths, and the booster does even better, new data from vaccinated and unvaccinated people in Austria illustrate. Three doses provide 99.2 percent effectiveness against deaths compared to unvaccinated. After two partial vaccinations, the figure is 92.6 percent, with a decline in protection against infection observed in the fall, the analysis by Gesundheit Österreich GmbH (GÖG) shows. “The result for Austria is in line with other international studies,” emphasized Lukas Rainer of GÖG. However, the data refer mainly to the delta variant.…

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Frankfurt researchers have identified a possible cause of milder disease courses in the omicron variant of the corona virus. Cell experiments have shown that Omicron is particularly sensitive to the so-called interferon response in humans compared to the predecessor variant Delta, the University Hospital in Frankfurt reported. Interferons are part of the immune system. The Frankfurt researchers, together with a team from the British University of Kent, published their findings in the journal Cell Research. “Apparently, unlike Delta, Omicron cannot prevent the affected cells from producing and secreting interferon,” Martin…

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Parsley, cress, dill & co. – herbs are more than just a spice and a nice topping on a meal. They are also very healthy in their own right. “Herbs score with secondary plant compounds as well as vitamins and minerals,” says Silke Restemeyer of the German Nutrition Society (DGE). You should consume them as often as possible in good doses – ideally with a balanced diet. Secondary plant substances can have an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect in the body or even lower blood pressure. Last but not least, the…

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Breastfeeding is probably not a risk factor for newborns, according to a recent U.S. study. Although this study allowed genetic material of the coronavirus to be found in the breast milk of infected mothers, the virus does not appear to be infectious, according to an analysis of breast milk samples from 110 breastfeeding women. Of the study participants, 65 tested positive for coronavirus, and nine had symptoms but a negative test result. Thirty-six women reported symptoms but were not tested.As the researchers led by Paul Krogstad of the University of…

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German hospitals are heading for very high numbers of corona patients again, according to Munich virologist Oliver Keppler. The scientist believes that the force of the wave of infections will be reflected in the clinics. “A downplaying of Omicron would therefore be fatal, the classification as “mild”, which can often be read, I consider to be fire dangerous,” said the head of virology at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich. “In the U.S., we see a monstrous infection event with up to a million new cases of infection a day,”…

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The omicron variant worries Austrians, according to a survey. The majority of respondents adhere to Corona measures to prevent possible contagion. As a survey conducted by the opinion research institute Unique research for the current issue of the news magazine “profil” shows, the majority of Austrians do not want to be infected with the Omicron variant under any circumstances. Austrians for the most part adhere to Covid measuresWhen asked about their personal behavior, 50 percent say they continue to strictly adhere to all measures because they “absolutely do not want…

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Bananas are a good source of vitamin B6 and provide ten percent of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C. However, experts advise against eating just one banana for breakfast. High fructose content leads to cravings, fatigue and loss of concentrationBanana fans need not be sad, the solution lies in the combinationThis is how bananas become a real energy kick on the breakfast table Bananas for breakfast – pure or in muesli: For many people, fruit in the morning is a matter of course that contributes decisively to a healthy…

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The omicron subtype “BA.2” is spreading rapidly in Norway, Sweden and Great Britain and has already overtaken the previous omicron variant BA.1 as the dominant form in Denmark. Not much is known yet about the once again modified variety, as geneticist Ulrich Elling explained. However, the mutability of the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen shows that only the broadest possible immune response will pave the way to the longed-for endemic. BA.2 has also already been detected in Austria through the systematic analysis of samples from sewage treatment plants, as the head of the…

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The Omicron-Covid-19 wave is probably not the end. There are already other variants of this SARS-CoV-2 mutation as well. “We are in a highly dynamic event,” said expert Andreas Bergthaler (MedUni Vienna/Center for Molecular Medicine; CeMM) in an online physician training session on Wednesday evening. In the therapy of Covid-19, most monoclonal antibodies had lost their effect again due to the constant mutation of the pathogens, he said. “From the beginning of the (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic, we have been constantly surprised. We are now at as many cases (of infection; note)…

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