Does wearing a surgical mask protect you from getting swine flu?

Answer 1

"Respirators", yes, in some situations described below. "Surgical facemasks", only maybe and only in some circumstances.

The term "respirator" when used by the CDC in this context, refers to: an N95 or higher filtering face piece respirator certified by the CDC/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Respirators are not recommended for children or people who have facial hair and they are difficult to breathe through for long periods of time. CDC also recommends medical evaluation, fitting, and training in its use.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued updated information about the efficacy and use of respirators and facemasks (surgical masks) to prevent the Novel H1N1 virus transmission. See related link below for full article on that May 23, 2009 news release. It includes different recommendations based upon the setting, e.g., community, home, occupational, health care facility; and based upon the level of medical risk the individual wearing a mask has with the disease, e.g., general health, pregnancy, age, etc. And it explains the differences in "respirator" vs. "facemask".

By technical definitions of "airborne", the 2009 Swine Flu (Novel H1N1) is not "airborne", but it can still be in the air and able to be inhaled. This is when the virus is in the air on droplets from a sneeze or cough. For lay purposes, it is best to just think of it as potentially in the air. The CDC recommends, if at all possible, keeping a distance of 6 feet from someone confirmed to have this virus.

Unless you wear a respirator or other specially made masks that can filter the sub-microscopic viruses to prevent your breathing them in, wearing a standard surgical mask, or other facemask that is not designed to filter sub-microscopic organisms (i.e., to fit correctly and filter correctly), will not help you avoid breathing viruses on droplets in the air. Viruses are small enough to pass right through the masks, or can enter around the sides of the mask.

The masks may, however, when worn by others who are infected with the influenza, prevent their spreading the virus to you on respiratory droplets when they sneeze or cough. And the surgical masks can help assure that you (or a family member with the flu in the home), do not give the virus to others when coughing or sneezing (by catching the respiratory droplets released during the cough and sneeze).

Surgical masks are designed to keep the respiratory droplets of the wearer contained (like covering your mouth with a tissue does) when coughing or sneezing.

Another potential advantage of surgical masks is they may help you to remember not to touch your face with your hands. A mask could help you remember that precaution when you may be "acting on automatic " when out in public.

The best prevention is good hygiene and hand washing. If unable to wash hands thoroughly and briskly for a minimum of 20-30 seconds with warm water and soap, use a waterless hand sanitizer that is a minimum of 60% alcohol. Use according to product directions.

Specific situations when the CDC suggests wearing a respirator or facemask:

* Crowded community setting with current Novel H1N1 cases, either facemask or respirator is recommended to be worn by those who can not avoid the area, and who are high risk persons (see below for definition).

* Caregiver in home setting who is caring for a person with Novel H1N1 and who is high risk themselves should wear either. (Suggested that others provide the care instead. They, unless high risk, would not have to wear masks or respirators.)

* Non Health Care Occupational settings with current Novel H1N1: non-high risk persons who can not avoid the setting should consider the respirators or facemasks.

* Non Health Care Occupational settings with current Novel H1N1: high risk persons who can not avoid the setting should consider the respirators or facemasks.

* Health Care Occupational settings with known or probable cases of Novel H1N1: Caregivers and other personnel who are non-high risk should wear respirators.

* Health Care Occupational settings with known or probable cases of Novel H1N1: Caregivers and other personnel who are high risk should consider temporary reassignment or should wear respirators.

CDC Defintion of High Risk Persons:

"Persons at increased risk of severe illness from influenza (i.e. high-risk persons) include those groups at higher risk for severe illness from seasonal influenza, including: children younger than 5 years old; persons aged 65 years or older; children and adolescents (younger than 18 years) who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and who might be at risk for experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection; pregnant women; adults and children who have pulmonary, including Asthma, cardiovascular, hepatic, hematological, neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders, such as Diabetes; adults and children who have immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by HIV); and, residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities."

July 13, 2009 the World Health Organization has added people with morbid obesity to the list of people at higher risk of morbidity and mortality from Novel H1N1. See the related question below, "Is obesity a risk factor for morbidity and mortality with Novel H1N1 - Swine Flu?"

See the related questions and links below for more information on

protecting yourself from the swine flu virus.