| This section answers your questions on whether or not to wear a face mask, will it protect you from H1N1, how to wear it, where to buy it from and should you wash and reuse it. It also gives detailed information on how different categories of people need to wear it - health care workers, householders and children. |
 If one were to identify the single most powerful visual image that the novel influenza A(H1N1) has come to acquire in recent weeks, it will have to be the face mask or the respirator that has been seen, written and talked about in practically all fora of discussion.
Efficacy of face masks
Information on the effectiveness of face masks and respirators for decreasing risk of influenza infection in community settings is extremely limited making it difficult to assess their potential effectiveness in decreasing the risk of novel influenza virus transmission in these settings.
In the absence of clear scientific data, interim recommendations have been developed on the basis of public health judgment, the historical use of face masks and respirators in other settings for preventing transmission of influenza and other respiratory viruses, and on current information on the spread and severity of the novel influenza A(H1N1).
 Use of a face mask or respirator is likely to be of most benefit if used correctly and consistently when exposed to an ill person. The optimal use of respirators requires fit testing, training and medical clearance. Proper use is recommended to maximise effectiveness. The use of face masks may be considered as an alternative to respirators, although they are not as effective as respirators in preventing inhalation of small particles, which is one potential route of influenza transmission
|
