I was called by the ABC National Radio program “AM” at 6:30 this morning to be interviewed about the use of face masks for protection against swine flu.
The interview formed part of a story “Rush for surgical masks at Sydney airport” on the ABC website. They got most of it right, except my specialty is occupational hygiene. I am an adjunct Associate Professor with the Centre for Environment and Population Health at Griffith University.
The BBC has a review on face masks and has a similar message. Here is ABC AM stuff:
Australians are rushing to buy surgical masks as fears of a swine flu pandemic grow.
But one occupational health specialist says people are wasting their money because most common surgical masks will not protect you from the disease.
Charlie Lahoud runs Sydney’s International Airport pharmacy and says business started picking up when swine flu hit the headlines on Monday.
“[They are] extremely popular. One of the first requests we get is ‘do you have face masks?’,” he said.
“I think that they’re just scared, they just want to ensure they get protected whilst travelling overseas, and, if anyone around them has got the virus, that they don’t come in contact with it through that form, I guess.
“I’d say sales jumped up by at least 30 to 40 per cent on the Monday, followed closely by Tuesday, when we sold out, and we had to put in a quick order of six boxes for Wednesday.”
He says it is predominantly people leaving the country wanting the masks, although there have been some requests from arrivals.
Amcal is Mr Lahoud’s supplier of surgical masks and it would not comment on its sales.
But Dr David Bromwich, who is an adjunct associate professor at Griffith University, specialises in population health and says some masks are next to useless at protecting you from disease.
“It’s a very common thing that people think that if they see a doctor wearing a mask, or it becomes a cultural thing of wearing a mask, that it actually gives them protection,” he said.
“But very often it will just protect other people, and not the wearer.
“I’ve even seen pictures of people wearing industrial masks with exhaust valves who are suspected of getting swine flu, contracting it, and that gives no protection to other people.
“So we’re getting a lot of confusion with the selection of respiratory protection.”
Hey says people wanting to protect themselves should be looking for two types of masks.
“One with a P2 marking on – that’s the Australian certification – and the other with an N95 marking on it, with the United States certification,” he said.
“The problem is, even if you do get those, then the fit of the mask is important – particularly around the nose. If you don’t have a good fit, then air will flow through these microscopic gaps.”
Dr Bromwich says the mask must be completely sealed, as even stubble around the face could let in germs.
But he says masks that fit well could substantially reduce your risk of getting the flu.
