Do face masks help prevent swine flu infection?
Many people in Mexico City, as well as travelers to and from Los Angeles, have been seen wearing mouth and nose protection of one kind or another in recent days. Face mask shouldn't replace other precautions.
Most were wearing face masks, which are loose-fitting and designed largely to help stop droplets from spreading from the person wearing the mask. They also protect the wearer's mouth and nose from splashes. They are not created to protect the wearer from breathing in very small particles.
If used correctly, masks and - more likely - respirators may indeed reduce the risk of getting influenza, according to information released from the CDC. But for people who live in areas with confirmed cases, there is no single action that will provide complete protection. It simply isn't practical to wear a mask all the time, and they are not 100% foolproof.
Face masks and respirators are most useful for people who are in crowded settings, such as classrooms or airplanes, where they will protect the mouth and nose from germs and reduce the likelihood of coughing or sneezing on other people.
Face masks and respirators are sometimes recommended for people who are in close contact with an infected person. "Close contact" is defined as three feet or less by the World Health Organization and six feet or less by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Face masks and respirators should be worn once, according to the World Health Organization. (Look for face masks labeled for surgical, dental, medical procedure, isolation or laser use.)
Health experts note that face masks and respirators should be used along with other precautions, such as frequent hand-washing, covering coughs, staying at home if ill and avoiding crowds.
For more information on face masks and respirators, see these Web pages from the CDC:
www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/guidance/individuals/en/index.html
www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/maskguidance.htm
www.cdc.gov/Features/MasksRespirators/
www.cdc.gov/swineflu/masks.htm
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