I wear a mask because I feel better

[SuperNova1987A]

From 2009 H1N1 FLU NEWS FORUM/ Aso calls for calm response as new flu infections reach 364 in Japan/post #117

The same thing happened in 1918: citizens wore masks which were nearly useless against the flu. We saw it in Mexico too, where lots of people wore fashionable, loose-fitting masks which provided very little protection.

Hi, Siegfried X

I know Japanese are famous for wearing masks and often caricaturized for it.
I don?t like to see Japanese running to dragstores for masks.

But I don?t think wearing masks is useless because we wear masks not only for ourselves but also for others.

In the flu season, I wear masks in the crowd because I feel better.

Because a flu patient starts releasing viruses one day before the onset of symptoms, I may infect others one day before I get sick without knowing it. I don?t want to be infected by others but also I don?t want to infect others.

Especially, A(H1N1) sometimes causes only mild symptoms and asymptomatic cases are reported by WHO. The risk of infecting others without knowing it would be greater.

Even if I am not infected, if I cough or sneeze when people are around, it is embarrassing not only for them but also for myself. If I wear a mask, people will feel better and I feel better.

I can cover my mouth with a handkerchief or my sleeve? Well, I may not be quick enough to cover it on time and I don?t want to wet my jacket.

Having said that, I don?t really recommend you to wear masks in your country if people don?t have the custom of wearing masks. In Japan, people have the habit of wearing masks and that makes me feel better.

Have a nice day.

PS: There are a couple of field surveys in Japan that say 'wearing masks reduce the risk of infection.'

__________________________
SN1987A

 

[Vibrant62]

Re: I wear a mask because I feel better

I believe that wearing masks is a positive policy, in that infected people will be less likely to cough and sneeze virus as far as if someone were not wearing one. They may not be fully effective at preventing infections but, logically, must help limit viral spread.

In addition to this, even if the reality is that they do little good, if they help people's psyche that in itself is a positive thing as individuals will be more likely to go about thier daily business - essential for continuity.

After the pandemic is over, epidemiologists will have some interesting data to examine to see the effects of mask wearing on transmission; they will be able to compare japanese disease incidence and spread with that of e.g. the UK where the official line is not to bother with masks, except in a medical setting.

It may well be that this will settle the argument as to wwhether there is any benefit of mask wearing or not, once and for all

 

[wotan]

Re: I wear a mask because I feel better

I remember hearing on the radio during the early days of this (very late April or earliest May) that the masks wouldn't really help stop transmission by an infected person (virions are too small for most masks) but it might help people not infect themselves by touching their mouth/nose after having contact with the virus. Take that FWIW.

 

[gsgs]

Re: I wear a mask because I feel better

> PS: There are a couple of field surveys in Japan that say
> 'wearing masks reduce the risk of infection.'

in Japanese ?
translate with google or yahoo


too bad that they can't test masks in mice

 

[pamwv41]

Re: I wear a mask because I feel better

I have a box of masks that I will use when I go into any crowded place if there is known flu circulating. I think that a mask makes people more conscious that a problem exists. It's sort of like wearing a black band around your arm if a relative dies. If some one sees my mask they may distance themselves from me because they think that I am the sick one.

 

[prepdeb]

Re: I wear a mask because I feel better

If some one sees my mask they may distance themselves from me because they think that I am the sick one.

Great point Pamwv.
Sort of like driving a car that is all dented up. People keep their distance from you.
Even if a mask doesn't provide full protection, it's bound to reduce the risk.
If others distance themselves from you while you're wearing it, the risk becomes even less.

 

[gsgs]

Re: I wear a mask because I feel better

maybe wear a sign "I'm sick" instead ;-)

 

[Michael Coston]

Re: I wear a mask because I feel better

I know that the media keeps repeating the same old saw, that facemasks aren't of any use in a pandemic, but I wouldn't be too quick to dismiss the protective value of surgical masks.


The science is, admittedly, a bit `thin', but there are a number of recent studies that point to surgical masks as being at least somewhat protective against influenza.


Governments, well aware that the supplies of masks are finite, are caught in a bind. If they recommend their use, we run out of them in a hurry. So the tendency is, quite understandably, to `play down' their use.


The University of New South Wales recently published the results of a 2 year study that showed that consistent use of facemasks and respirators by family members - when someone in the house was sick with an influenza-like illness - reduced the transmission by as much as 75%.


http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-01/uons-uav012209.php

Unmasked and vulnerable
World-first clinical trial shows mask-wearing significantly boosts flu protection

Donning a face mask is an easy way to boost protection from severe respiratory illnesses such as influenza and SARS, new research from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) has found, but convincing a reluctant public and health workers is proving a struggle.



And this one from the Risk Analysis Journal.


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090520161332.htm
Face Protection Effective In Preventing The Spread Of Influenza, Study Suggests


There are others as well.

While the CDC is not currently recommending the `casual wearing' of facemasks for the H1N1 virus, they don't dispute that these masks may have some protective value during a pandemic.

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/masks.htm

 

[Merkava]

Re: I wear a mask because I feel better

Surgical masks alone offer limited protection ***. BUT they do:
- remind you not to touch your mouth or nose with your hands, unless you have washed/disinfected your hands.

To my understanding that is the greatest benefit of wearing masks.

1918 shows that masks alone do nothing, if hand hygiene is lacking. There weren't alcohol hand-rub in mini bottles in 1918...


*** Main reason why it is continuously said that masks don't offer protection is that there aren't enough of them for everyone. Simple as that.

 

[SuperNova1987A]

Re: I wear a mask because I feel better

> PS: There are a couple of field surveys in Japan that say
> 'wearing masks reduce the risk of infection.'

in Japanese ?
translate with google or yahoo

Here you are.
In Japanese,
http://www.unicharm.co.jp/company/news/2007/07nov-1.html

In English,
http://sciencelinks.jp/j-east/article/200619/000020061906A0539119.php

>too bad that they can't test masks in mice

Mickey Mouse in Tokyo Disney Land may help us. (Sorry)

Usually, laboratory experiments don't solve questions of this kind. Laboratory is different from the real world where too many elements influence the result.
(Just as in the case of aerosol transmission of flu virus)

Only an extensive and detailed epidemiological investigation can answer the question as vibrant 62 suggests.

___________________
SN1987A

 

[Merkava]

Re: I wear a mask because I feel better

Also, i have had my share of "ballistic nasal secretion shower" from my fellow human beings - twice today alone.

I don't wear mask but i surely wish that some OTHERS would wear them... and no, i don't return the favour.

 

[gsgs]

Re: I wear a mask because I feel better

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Abstract;Our hospital is specialized in rheumatism. The number of beds is 240. During influenza outbreak in 2003, all hospital staffs, patients, and visitors wore a surgical mask to prevent transmission of influenza. The surgical mask was distributed at reception desk for free of charge. Since then, we encouraged yearly vaccination and use of surgical masks during the winter. As a result, frequency of influenza among the inpatients was decreased
--------------------------------

but how much ?
does M**flu transmit at current temperature via aerosole
in Guinea pig ?

 

[wotan]

Re: I wear a mask because I feel better

------------------------------
Abstract;Our hospital is specialized in rheumatism. The number of beds is 240. During influenza outbreak in 2003, all hospital staffs, patients, and visitors wore a surgical mask to prevent transmission of influenza. The surgical mask was distributed at reception desk for free of charge. Since then, we encouraged yearly vaccination and use of surgical masks during the winter. As a result, frequency of influenza among the inpatients was decreased
--------------------------------

Emphasis added.

They changed two parameters. More widespread use of the vaccine may have been considerably more important that the use of the masks.

 

[gsgs]

Re: I wear a mask because I feel better

searching pubmed for influenza and masks:

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Records from an "open-air" hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, suggest that some patients and staff were spared the worst of the outbreak. A combination of fresh air, sunlight, scrupulous standards of hygiene, and reusable face masks appears to have substantially reduced deaths among some patients and infections among medical staff
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we argue that the contribution from contact transmission is trivial for influenza and the contribution from droplet transmission is likely to be small.
Our model predicts that the key infection control measure is the use of N95 respirators, and that the combination of respirators, humidifiers, and ventilation reduces the threshold parameter (which dictates whether or not an epidemic breaks out) by approximately 20% if 70% of households comply, and by approximately 40% if 70% of households and workplaces comply ( approximately 28% reduction would have been required to control the 1918 pandemic). However, only approximately 30% of the benefits in the household are achieved if these interventions are used only after the infected develops symptoms. It is also important for people to sleep in separate bedrooms throughout the pandemic, space permitting. Surgical masks with a device (e.g., nylon hosiery) to reduce face-seal leakage are a reasonable alternative to N95 respirators if the latter are in short supply.
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We found that adherence to mask use significantly reduced the risk for ILI-associated infection, but <50% of participants wore masks most of the time. We concluded that household use of face masks is associated with low adherence and is ineffective for controlling seasonal respiratory disease. However, during a severe pandemic when use of face masks might be greater, pandemic transmission in households could be reduced.
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This exercise was rated as satisfactory with a good participation. However, it revealed unexpected dysfunctions such as application of barrier precautions. Also, that the FFP2 mask was not suitable for all people, especially for children, a problem in case of a pandemic.

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Any type of general mask use is likely to decrease viral exposure and infection risk on a population level, in spite of imperfect fit and imperfect adherence, personal respirators providing most protection. Masks worn by patients may not offer as great a degree of protection against aerosol transmission.

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....

 

[Lizw]

Re: I wear a mask because I feel better

Surgical masks with a device (e.g., nylon hosiery) to reduce face-seal leakage are a reasonable alternative to N95 respirators if the latter are in short supply.

That is very useful information. Thanks for posting it. I have enough N95 respirators on hand to take care of the extended family, but it would be nice to have some of the less expensive surgical masks as well. I hadn't planned on buying those because I didn't think they really helped much. I might get some after all, and I'll definitely pass on the info.

 

[hornblower]

Re: I wear a mask because I feel better

Don't forget about the T-shirt mask for when you're totally out of masks:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/530778_print


(sorry but that link goes to a page with a 'print' order - I can't figure out how to get the regular page. Turn your printer off it does jobs automatically & you don't want it printed....)