Maybe shorter time contagious – science.ORF.at

When you are healthy is a clinical question, emphasizes Stephan Aberle, head of the national reference laboratory for virological tests of arboviruses. “I think that somehow everyone knows how you feel.” The question asked by virologists is: “When is a patient no longer infectious?” And that has not yet been finally clarified with Covid-19. As with other viral infections, the coronavirus could still be detectable when the patient is actually no longer contagious, says Aberle.

“During the infection, the amount of virus in the airways drops. Second, antibodies develop during the course of the disease. They bind to the virus – it is still detectable, but no longer infectious, ”explains the virologist. When the virus is no longer infectious, is still open. Scientific research results are likely to be published shortly, according to which Corona could no longer be more contagious than previously thought. “Maybe that could be a way to let people go earlier (from hospitals, note),” says Aberle. The infectivity could possibly no longer exist after one week.

Coronavirus patients are currently being discharged in Austria after having been negative twice. “This is the reason why they appear to be unhealthy or healed for so long. But it is really important that this is so. Because you still don’t know how it is with infectivity. Perhaps transmissions are still possible in the phase where antibodies are already being formed. “Long quarantines are particularly important if there are still relatively few cases and if possible every transmission should be prevented, says Aberle.

Hope for immunity

What about immunity after being infected with the coronavirus? “It is still open whether you are immune then. The following serious illnesses can quickly be excluded. We assume that there is an immunity that protects against a serious illness. We also assume that the transferability will decrease, ”says the scientist in an interview with the Austria Press Agency. There are other coronaviruses (OC43, 229E) that adults can use to infect themselves again and again: “But they are not seriously ill.” The new coronavirus does not change as quickly as flu viruses, emphasizes Aberle.

Currently, Austria is “strictly looking that there is no outbreak like in Italy or Wuhan”. The virologist describes the current measures in Austria against the spread of the virus as “good for flattening the top. But if you flatten the top, it also goes into the width ”. Which measures will be necessary in the longer term? “That will show in the course of April. The warm season, when virus transmission is more difficult, could help. I don’t believe that no measures will be necessary at all. “

The staff at the Virological Institute at MedUni Vienna naturally have their hands full at the moment. As many diagnoses as possible are delivered as quickly as possible. For this, samples from other laboratories are checked. It also examines which tests are best used in which phase of corona disease. There are no quick tests for Covid-19 yet, according to Aberle.

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