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Q: Will a face mask protect me from swine flu?
A: Yes, but use it correctly and take other hygiene measures

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Our expert: Dr Raina MacIntyre
Published 29/04/2009
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We've all seen the pictures of Mexican commuters wearing face masks to protect them from that country's outbreak of deadly swine flu. But is there any evidence the masks actually work?

Well it seems there is. Public health expert Professor Raina MacIntyre researched the protective value of surgical versus P2 masks in 143 NSW families who had a child attend a hospital emergency department because of influenza.

Those parents who wore a surgical or P2 mask while tending to their sick kids were four times less likely to get influenza or other respiratory viruses, the study found.

But there's the rub. Getting people to wear the masks was an uphill battle. Just under half of parents wore their masks on the first day and the rate declined with every day that passed.

Of course, with the world in a frenzy over swine flu, and an effective vaccine unlikely to be available for months, that attitude could be about to change. MacIntyre now expects to see more people using the masks on public transport and in other crowded places.
How masks work

They may not be a great fashion statement, but the principle behind face masks is simple.

Because the influenza virus is transmitted in droplets of water, rather than through the air, placing a protective barrier over your face can block its entry into your mouth or nose.

So when the passenger sitting next to you on the bus coughs and splutters all the way into town, those virus-bearing droplets will stay on the outside of the mask rather than entering your system.

To be effective, you need to change your mask every time you remove it, for example, to eat. MacIntyre suggests using disposable paper masks, which you can buy from pharmacies, as they are cheap and easy to use.

Try to touch your face mask as little as possible, remove it using the straps, and dispose of it properly after use. There's not much point collecting the virus on the outside of the mask if you then smear it all over your hands immediately before eating.

You should also make sure you keep used masks away from children.
Other protective measures

It is important to remember, however, that the flu virus can live on surfaces for a couple of hours. That means even if you're wearing a mask it is still possible to catch the flu from your fellow commuters if you haven't washed your hands before putting them near your face.

Apart from wearing a mask, the best way to protect yourself from influenza – and any other infectious disease – is to follow normal good hygiene practices.

"Hand washing is extremely important and very, very protective," says MacIntyre.

You should wash your hands with normal soap and water:

* after removing your mask
* before and after contact with other people
* before and after touching your mouth, nose or eyes
* before you eat.

Alcohol gel, rinses and foams do work, but they are no more effective than soap and water.

You'll also lessen your chances of catching the flu if you keep your hands away from your face.

If you are unlucky enough to pick up influenza, or other respiratory virus, then good sneezing etiquette will help protect those around you from sharing the pain. Don't cough or sneeze into your hand, use a tissue and dispose of it properly when you have finished.

It's also worth teaching children basic infection control principles, such as how to wash their hands properly and to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze. You might also want to encourage them not to run their hands along surfaces when they are in public places.
Treatment

Go to your doctor if you have any symptoms of influenza such as fever, headache, muscle aches and pains, fatigue, runny nose, sore throat or cough. Prompt administration of antiviral drugs can dramatically reduce the severity of your symptoms.

It is also important to have your flu shots, MacIntyre says. Although the currently available vaccine probably won't provide any significant protection against swine flu, it will protect against other strains of influenza circulating in the community.

Professor Raina MacIntyre is an epidemiologist and the head of Public Health and Community Medicine at the University of NSW. She was interviewed by Jane McCredie.

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Matthew :

01 May 2009 12:37:03am

This answer really concerns me. I searched the WHO website for "Respirator protection".

The very first result is "Guide for field operations: Collecting, preserving and shipping specimens for the diagnosis of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus infection"

On the very first page of this document is states "Surgical and procedure masks do not provide protection against small-particle aerosols
(droplet nuclei)"

The second page states "Also it is almost impossible to prevent occasional leaks of contaminated air into the mask".

I don't feel the answer the ABC is giving is correct.


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Rewhine :

30 Apr 2009 10:40:22pm

So let me see if I got this so far: If you know or suspect that you have the flu, then it's 'good' to wear a mask (assuming this is the stuff you can buy from the pharmacy), so you minimise spreading your germs around.

On the other hand, putting on a mask (of the unspecified kind)as a precautionary measure so you don't get someone else's bug is pretty much useless.

But if you wear an N95 mask then you're ok for either scenario?


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Deb :

30 Apr 2009 5:23:31pm

If you're sick wear a mask so you don't infect others. Wearing a mask to stop you getting the virus just sounds overkill to me and as explaimed by Greg doesn't work with dust masks.


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GREG :

30 Apr 2009 12:04:11pm

bollocks!
Unless the mask is a certified N95 respirator as per WHO's own guidelines then most of these other masks being sold or used are totally useless.
The type of surgical mask shown is only assisting in preventing the spread of the flu by containing the droplets within the mask of an infected person not preventing you getting the flu. A N95 is the only type of mask that would achieve this for the general public.
Some of the masks that are being worn on news reports etc even by reporters are also useless (just a nuisance dust mask) they are not even a surgical mask.
Please if you are going to put this information out in the public domain check your facts first or contact a specialist respiratory mask supplier.
No mention either in your article about the importance of a correctly fitted mask and the fact to achieve a protective seal you may have to look at masks of different sizes.
regards
greg

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naughtee :

30 Apr 2009 4:53:09pm

no one mentioned putting the mask on your bollocks greg, although i'd imagine a correctly fitting bollock mask would be very important


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