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Wearing masks effective against flu, SARS

Posted on: Tuesday, 27 January 2009, 17:03 CST

Donning a face mask is an easy way to boost protection from severe respiratory illnesses such as influenza and SARS, Australian researchers said.

Lead author Raina MacIntyre of the University of New South Wales found adult mask wearers in the home were four times more likely than non-wearers to be protected against respiratory viruses, including the common cold or severe acute respiratory syndrome.

However, convincing a reluctant public and healthcare workers to wear masks may prove to be a struggle, MacIntyre said.

The findings, published in Emerging Infectious Diseases, have global implications and are particularly relevant to efforts to combat the spread of flu pandemics and other emerging respiratory diseases such as SARS, MacIntyre said.

In the event of a severe pandemic, demand for protection could become a law and order issue, MacIntyre said in a statement.

In a crisis, vaccine development is likely to be delayed and drugs may be in short supply or not available at all, so masks are an important means of protection for the community, who otherwise may be last in line for vaccines and drugs.

At a day-to-day level, the study is also good news for parents of toddlers and young children, MacIntyre said.

There is no effective treatment for the 90 or so common cold viruses that make families sick each winter, but masks could provide simple and effective protection, MacIntyre said.

Source: United Press International

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