How to catch the flu and how not to—surgical masks may be helpful

Oct 7, 2009 1:39 PM

Hate it when somebody coughs right into your face and eyes? You're not just germ-phobic, that may be the most likely way to transmit influenza, according to a newly published study.

Researchers from UC-Berkley’s School of Public Health and the University of Illinois at Chicago’s School of Public Health concluded that close contact spraying of respiratory droplets with the influenza virus carried the greatest risk of infection, followed by hand contact with contaminated surfaces, and inhaling particles carrying the virus. The study was published in Risk Analysis: An International Journal published by the nonprofit Society for Risk Analysis, and used mathematical modeling to examine the theoretical risk of catching an influenza A virus—a type of influenza virus that includes the new H1N1 and several seasonal strains—through various types of exposures when a healthy person is caring for someone bed-ridden with the flu.

While these findings are theoretical, meaning they aren’t based on observations of actual people who caught the flu, they do give an idea of the best ways to prevent the flu. That starts with the flu vaccines, which should prevent your body from actually becoming infected. But evidence shows that influenza vaccines aren’t 100 percent effective, so good hand hygiene, covering coughs and sneezes, and avoiding close contact with sick people are crucial—even if you’ve been vaccinated.

Finally, when you can’t avoid close contact with someone who is ill—say, for example, if you are caring for a loved one—masks that cover your face and nose securely can be an effective way to reduce your risk of transmission. We’ve previously reported on N-95 respirator masks. Some research suggests that worn correctly by the person who is ill, and the caretaker during close contact, these masks may be the most effective.

But now a new study just published in the Journal for the American Medical Association suggests that, in a hospital setting at least, surgical masks fared no worse than N-95* respirators. So if you have access to a surgical mask rather than an N-95 respirator, it may be helpful. But you’ll have to make sure you wear it right, get a tight fit around your mouth and nose, and don’t reuse them after they’ve been exposed. You’ll also need to adhere to the other methods of prevention. Masks don’t protect your eyes, which are vulnerable to the virus. And it may not do much good if you don’t clean your hands after exposure either.

—Kevin McCarthy, associate editor

* Update for November 2, 2009: A 2009 study finding that N-95 respirators were superior to surgical masks at preventing the spread of flu was retracted by the authors after a flaw in the methods was discovered. The authors now say there is no significance difference between N-95 respirators and surgical masks, confirming another recent study that found they were equal.

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