In Flu Pandemic Don't Expect Too Much From Face Masks

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Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Also Included In: Public Health;  Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Article Date: 28 Apr 2006 - 14:00 PDT

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According to a study carried out by the Institute of Medicine, in the event of a flu pandemic we should not expect face masks to offer a great deal of protection. The report also stressed that once used, the mask must be thrown away - do not reuse them.

The report concluded that we really do not know how much protection face masks could offer during a pandemic. There is no compelling evidence that they would be able to stop the pandemic virus from entering and infecting the human body, i.e. the evidence is not there.

The report expressed concern about people putting on a mask, feeling protected, and going into crowded places or areas where infected people may be.

Quite bluntly, the report says it does not know. It is not telling us not to use a mask, it is not telling us a mask would protect us. All it is really saying is that respiratory protection is the last resort to control the spread of infection.

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) asked the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to investigate whether N95 respirators, masks with good filters, could be reused. The IOM said 'No, they can't be reused'*.

If/When a flu pandemic hits, public health authorities need to know how many masks to stock. Whether or not a mask can be reused will influence this calculation. HHS has ordered 150 masks.

150 million masks will not go very far in the USA, a country with nearly 300 million people. France, with a population of about 60 million has ordered 200 million masks - the equivalent of the USA ordering one billion masks.

*The report did state that the N95 mask could be reused if the user could be sure nothing hit its surface. For example, if another mask was placed over it. The user, on taking the mask off, would have to be incredibly careful, and then put it away in a sterile place.

The N95 mask must fit the wearer's face snugly - they are not 'one-size-fits-all' masks. There are none for children.

Some people have written to Medical News Today asking whether it might not be better for the infected patients to wear the masks. The logic being that a mask is more likely to block sneezes and coughs than a virus coming in.

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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