Posted on 04/27/2009 7:14:22 AM PDT by cornfedcowboy
A simple question: Does wearing a mask help prevent acquiring the flu? Apparently a few million in Mexico City think so. I am curious to hear what educated freepers have to say.
some
Don’t see why it wouldn’t!
They are part of “standard precautions” when dealing with infectious patients including gowns, gloves, and hand washing.
They help some. Factors include fit, droplet size. Flu is also spread hand to mouth so anything you touch, including money can be contaminated. Very hard to stop transmission.
A surgical mask is intended to be worn by health professionals during surgery and at other times to catch the bacteria shed in liquid droplets and aerosols from the wearer's mouth and nose.... Link
IMHO, a mask is better than nothing; but it is far from what I would term "effective protection". I'm not a medical professional - just a silly engineer. Still, any filter is better than nothing, but a filter that is 100x larger than the viri is practically useless, IMHO.
I’m guessing it depends on the mask. There’s a difference between drywall masks and surgical masks.
It is more of a ‘feel-good-ism’.
If someone coughs/sneezes, another acquires the germs in their breathing (masks may prevent that) and touch (exposed skin/clothing).
Viruses may survive up to 7 days.
If the virus is on skin/clothing, it can still be transferred via touch to eyes, nose, mouth, etc.
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For months, several stores in my small town have provided disinfectant handi-wipes.
It would probably be a good idea to carry those (on person and in vehicle) and use them frequently — after exiting a store where you have touched products on the shelves. Also hand sanitizers.
Well, take a quick look at HIV....
A condom is designed to block a sperm cell which is at least 10 times larger than a virus, but the condom is still a porous material with millions of microscopic holes in it.
While an HIV virus strain’s movement can be slowed down by the use of a condom, technically it can still pass straight through it.
Compare this truth to the use of a face mask, and you have your answer.
Sure, the virus is small, but it is carried in droplets, which are much larger.
I doubt it hurts, but it does give some people a little peace of mind, so it’s certainly OK with me. They do it in Japan all the time.
Needless to say , nothing is 100% but masks will help if you are of a mind to wear the thing.
Thanks to everybody chiming in.
Wearing a mask should help, it should lower the odds of you getting the flu. Most cold and flu germs are spread from hands to mouth and nose and for one thing the mask would keep you from touching your mouth or nose with hands that had picked up the germs. For another thing, even though the germs are really small and could easily pass through a simple mask- the germs are usually spread by being inside much larger drops of mucus which might not pass through the mask if someone near you say sneezed or coughed.
Frequent hand washing, frequent cleaning of surfaces people touch, frequent use of disinfectent sprays, and even wearing a mask should all help lessen the odds of being infected. Another thing is to air out your house- keeping houses closed up like most do now is more conducive to getting colds and flu spread through the family than the old fashioned way of opening doors and windows to let air circulate freely. My mother used to open all the windows and doors when she cleaned house unless it was just too cold and even then she would crack a door or two for a few minutes to let fresh air in. I am a firm believer in fresh air myself. It irritates hubby when the air I let in is a little cool- but he gets over it.
If you’re out and about, and people see you wearing a surgical mask, they might cross to the other side of the street to “avoid” you... thus preventing you from having close contact with possibly infected people in public. So in that sense, it might work.
Do masks work at preventing flu? Yes unless they are porous. And wash those hands! Make sure you also wear surgical gloves and get yourself completely sanitized and sterilized daily.
OK, so the droplet gets caught on the mask. Meanwhile you are sucking air through that mask - how many viri do you suppose you suck out of that droplet? Or, say that droplet evaporates, then what?
Assuming that the mask does cover 100% of your nose and mouth, and the mask captures 100% of the droplets - what about your eyes? Your hands, that soda pop can, your water glass, your face. Scratch your head, eat a sandwhich. Spill some BBQ sauce on your pants, wipe it with your finger and lick it off.
Hey, if wearing a mask makes you feel better - wear the mask. Just wear it knowing that it’s as effective as wearing a sandwhich bag during a hurricane. You are still gonna get wet.
It can’t hurt. Better safe than sorry.
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