Finally.
Some potentially positive news about H1N1: new research suggests face masks can help prevent transmission.
I know talking to your friends and family about buying a couple of masks will invariably set off the usual eyerolling and bragging over just how unworried they are, but that’s okay. We’ll just talk about the masks and swine flu over here, where we all have a little more reason to worry because of our asthma kids. Shall we?
During SARS, the avian flu scare, and now, people in affected areas have turned to face masks even while nobody really had much evidence for their preventative qualities. Now, after studying 407 people who tested positive for seasonal flu, University of Hong Kong researchers determined those people who wore face masks and whose families wore them, in addition to frequent handwashing by all, (within the first 36 hours of symptoms) were less likely to pass the virus along.
You can read more about the methodology, but heed these:
1. These results do not conclusively prove whether the handwashing, the masks, or both worked best for prevention.
2. The researchers studied seasonal flu and not swine flu, though the two are transmitted the same way and the lead author, Benjamin Cowling, PhD, says the results therefore apply to both.
3. CDC is not changing its guidelines and recommending face masks (except in high-risk situations) in light of this study since the benefit of the masks is still not clear.
Interestingly, 3M announced its ramping up of N95 respiratory mask production in response to increased demand as early as last month, before this study came out. If you’re not familiar with term, N95 is the designation for masks that filter 95% of air particles or more, and they’re the only ones known to offer virus protection. (ETA: Research that suggested N95 masks work better than surgical ones has been retracted.)
As per usual:
Is this research proof?
No, but it does add a little more to the overall prevention picture.
Should people stockpile masks?
Of course not.
Am I going to buy a few for my own family?
You bet I am.
I won’t send my girls to school with them or anything, but if someone in this house comes down with H1N1, wearing masks at home may help offer AG the best protection for her lungs, particularly if the virus ever mutates to a more severe form.
Unrelated to the masks, but related to the swine flu…our pulmonary dr. told us the vaccines should be available as early as September! The only question I have is regarding the safety of the vaccine. With the quick development I’m a little nervous about much oversight there will be. What have you heard?
Really? September? That would be awesome. I’ve read/heard only a very little about safety and production issues, though–mostly that companies were having problems producing it, possibly leading to a shortage and/or delay. Let me know if you find out anything more & I’ll do the same!