Sydney (dpa) - Wearing a surgical mask is a cheap and effective
way of keeping out contagious diseases like swine flu, an Australian
researcher said Monday.
"Masks play an important role in reducing transmission if they are
worn properly," said Raina MacIntyre, head of the University of New
South Wales school of public health and community medicine.
"In a crisis, vaccine development is likely to be delayed and
drugs may be in short supply or not available at all," she said.
"Limited supplies will be directed first to front line health
workers, so masks are an important means of protection for the
community, who otherwise may be last in line for vaccines and drugs."
Professor MacIntyre said her study provides the first scientific
evidence that masks greatly reduce the risk of contracting highly
contagious respiratory illnesses such as swine flu or even the common
cold.
Masks have long been used in Asia against transmitting infections,
but Westerners have been reluctant to adopt the practise.
MacIntyre's findings are published in Emerging Infectious
Diseases, the journal of the US Centre for Disease Control and
Prevention.
Copyright 2009 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH