Comments on: Swine Flu in Osaka, the situation and facts

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 20 May 2009 05:18:09 +0000

Surprisingly there have not been many mask wearers in our office even though they have been distributed officially as a directive from head office in Tokyo (though some of my Japanese colleagues are so enthusiastic it seems they wear them for high pollen counts!)

The odd thing is that a lot of people are getting a common cold in London at the moment that adds to the perception that the flu is spreading (I myself had it..or was it really the flu??).

Fortunately in London although there have been several confirmed cases, people aren’t in a panic, despite the best attempts of the media….well that’s old news now…Pete and Jordan’s break up is the big story this week :p

By: wh

wh — Wed, 20 May 2009 05:15:00 +0000

Ian I’m following your updates on this. Here in Canada we have 520 confirmed cases but except for one death most of the cases have been mild.

The feeling here is of guarded optimism and most people are carrying on business as usual.

By: Ian Cheung

Ian Cheung — Wed, 20 May 2009 04:57:18 +0000

Janne, I totally understand your point. And I mostly agree with you but in a way you also agree with me.

it greatly reduces the radius around which they spread the virus

The official recommendation about masks, is based on reducing the spread. This is especially important in public transport. Moreover people who are carrying the virus may not know they are, due to the incubation period. So wearing a mask isn’t just a matter or preventing of you getting the flu but in reducing the risk of passing it onto others.

Yes, I agree with you that, an anti-viral mask is best (I’ll amend the post shortly) but any mask will help reduce the spread.

By: Janne

Janne — Wed, 20 May 2009 03:47:22 +0000

“Masks, are very effective at preventing the spread, hence the panic buying and stores being out of stock. Even the cheapest masks are effective (since they cut down they massively reduce the air-borne particles carrying the virus).”

No, they are not. N95/P2 masks are effective if worn and handled properly. Surgical masks are far less effective, and the flimsy masks you get at the drug store are almost completely ineffective. You can check up the research on it. Part of the reason they don’t work well is because the water droplets may stick in the mask, but you keep breathing through it and drawing the virus through the mask as the moisture evaporates.

There is a minor benefit since they make people not touch their nose and mouth (this is a common means of infection and the reason we’re advised to wash out hands). And it makes sense to wear a mask for those already infected as it greatly reduces the radius around which they spread the virus.

But do not think that a normal drug store mask actually prevents infection. May sound like a pointless claim – what does it hurt, after all – but it’s important if you end up nursing a family member. If it isn’t a proper antiviral mask, worn and disposed correctly, you risk getting infected too. Which may be a major disaster if there’s nobody else around to nurse you in turn.