Flu masks may protect public
Monday January 25th, 2010
Wearing a face mask during a flu outbreak may halve the risk of contracting the virus, researchers have reported.
The conclusions come from a study of some 1,400 college students who took part in an experiment three years ago.
During
a flu outbreak, students were persuaded to wear masks or to wear masks
and use an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
Researchers compared these with students left to their own devices over a six week period.
Researchers from the University of Michigan, USA, have reported their findings in The Journal of Infectious Diseases.
Students who wore masks were about half as much likely as the others to contract flu.
The findings cast light on the use of masks, which became controversial during the swine flu pandemic. They were common-place in Mexico at the outset - but as the virus spread, authorities resisted issuing them to whole populations.
The researchers led by Dr Allison Aiello say the findings "have implications for guidelines and recommendations for mask use in the community setting."
The Journal of Infectious Diseases on-line January 21 2010
Tags: Flu & Viruses | North America | Nursing & Midwifery
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