Emotional posting

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Hannes Primus (SPÖ), mayor of the Carinthian town of Wolfsberg, has to undergo a bone marrow transplant.

(Bild: EVELYN HRONEK)

Shock in the Carinthian district town of Wolfsberg! The incumbent mayor Hannes Primus (SPÖ) has made his diagnosis public in an emotional Facebook post. "I suffer from a rare disease and need a bone marrow transplant!" He announced that he would therefore be out of action for months. 

If everything goes according to plan, treatment will begin in Graz at the end of May/beginning of June. He will receive chemotherapy and his sister will be the stem cell donor. During this time, he will be completely isolated and will only be allowed to see family members.

Posting: Carinthian mayor makes illness public

The 47-year-old, who has been mayor of Wolfsberg since 2020, asked for understanding that he would not be able to attend any large events or gatherings until treatment begins. 

Rare blood disease was diagnosed
However, he sees it as his duty as mayor to make his illness public. "After I was recently in hospital for almost two weeks with severe pneumonia - partly as a result of a weakened immune system - a few people have asked why I am making a public issue of this, as others also have pneumonia. I see it as my duty to be honest and return information that is of public interest." The reason for the pneumonia was a blood disorder that was diagnosed in March. At that time, he was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, a rare blood disorder that affects only four in 100,000 people," said Primus. His blood values were still not right and therefore the therapy was necessary.

It will be a few months before I am fully operational again, but the work for the good of the city continues and I also speak for all the political groups in the municipal council. As they say in soccer - 'divided in color, united in purpose'.

Hannes Primus (SPÖ), Bürgermeister der Stadt Wolfsberg

Appeal to political opponents
He knows that he will not have an easy time, but he will get through it. "I have a strong family and friends who stand behind me and support me in all situations. Even though I am in the public eye because of my office, I would ask that my family treat me with respect and thank them at the same time."

Hope for a comeback soon
It will take a few months before he is fully operational again. "But the work for the good of the city continues and I also speak for all the political groups in the municipal council. As they say in soccer - 'divided in color, united in purpose'."

Primus has since received numerous well wishes on his Facebook account. Until his full recovery, SPÖ Deputy Mayor Alexander Radl will take over his functions.