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Medical employees at the University Hospital in Salzburg treat a corona patient at the beginning of November. Due to the sharp increase, the intensive care units across the country are reaching their limits. In the meantime, anti-vaccination agents are increasingly relying on an anti-wormer.
While the corona situation in Austria is worsening every day and many people die from Covid-19 every day, some also poison themselves. The reason: Opponents swear by the anti-wormer Ivermectin. The consequences of this animal drug can be devastating.
Salzburg / Vienna. They do not want to be vaccinated and rely on a deworming agent for animals instead of a tested vaccine: In Austria, anti-vaccination agents are increasingly getting the drug Ivermectin from pharmacies. In many places it is already sold out.
Actually, horses or cattle are dewormed with ivermectin. Experts are now warning against incorrect consumption – there is a risk of devastating consequences such as poisoning.
The seven-day incidence in Austria last climbed above 900 for the first time. In Salzburg it reached an Austria-wide peak with almost 1600. Salzburg clinics are preparing triage procedures in order to decide which patients are allowed to occupy the scarce hospital beds and which must be turned away. In other federal states, some operations are already being postponed.
Copyright: picture alliance / dpa / APA
Herbert Kickl, parliamentary group leader of the FPÖ (here in June 2021) has Corona. He rejected the government’s corona measures.
The vaccine-skeptical head of the Austrian right, Herbert Kickl (FPÖ), is sick with Covid-19. On Monday, he said on Facebook that he and his family members were experiencing symptoms. “Unfortunately, I have to inform you that I received the message from the health authorities today that a PCR test that I submitted yesterday is positive,” he wrote there.
Austria: FPÖ rejects corona measures
The FPÖ, like the AfD in Germany, rejected the government’s corona measures as restrictions on freedom. At the beginning of November, Kickl then presented a so-called “Plan B” against the virus. In his view, early treatment of Covid-19 should be relied on instead of vaccination. He also mentioned the anti-wormer drug ivermectin, which can be used against the disease.
So he campaigned against vaccinations and for not recommended therapies – and thus contradicts the medical doctrine. Doctors and the Kickl government have repeatedly criticized Kickl.
Nevertheless, some Austrians stock up on the drug, although there is no evidence that the active ingredient effectively protects against Covid-19. “Ivermectin is always sold out, even though it requires a prescription,” says Thomas Veitschegger, President of the Upper Austrian Chamber of Pharmacists, on the portal “OÖ Nachrichten” quotes. In addition, many take ivermectin completely wrong. “You take the much higher dose that is actually intended for horses. There has been poisoning. “
Ivermectin was developed to fight parasites in the body of larger animals. But so far, studies have not provided any scientific evidence that the agent could prevent Sars-CoV-2 infection or improve the health of Covid patients.
Studies show: No effect against Sars CoV-2 infection
This is the result of researchers from the Department of Anaesthesiology at the University Hospital Würzburg, who have systematically examined the effects of ivermectin and Covid-19. There is no evidence that ivermectin works against the virus or the disease – compared, for example, with a dummy drug (placebo) that the doctors did in their own at the end of July Press release clarified. It is “not a miracle cure”.
The EMA also spoke out against the use of the drug at the end of March.
And while many people continue to die of Covid-19 and a few more poison themselves with ivermectin, the right-wing FPÖ recently even made jokes about the deworming treatment. That reports the “Courier”.
FPÖ jokes about ivermectin
When asked which drug Kickl can be treated with, the answer was: “Of course with ivermectin”. The counter-question “Seriously?” Was then only answered with a laugh. “That was a joke.”
Most people in Austria trust the vaccines, the country has recently seen a sharp increase in vaccination numbers in the past few days. But that has not yet slowed the rapid spread of the virus. The pandemic in Austria has already claimed almost 11,900 deaths. (mg)