In East Asian countries such as Japan, China, and Korea, people have long worn surgical masks for protection from disease and air pollution. Recently, however, the use of surgical masks has become very popular worldwide in highly concentrated public settings such as airports, subways, and shopping malls. Notable surges in the use of masks follow influenza outbreaks, such as the 2003 SARS outbreak in China and Hong Kong and the 2006 influenza outbreak in the United States. This correlation between mask usage and flu outbreaks suggests that people tend to use the masks to protect themselves against these contagious flu viruses.
Traditionally, surgeons use surgical masks to protect patients against the surgeons’ germs. In fact, the masks are designed to keep germs in, not out. Consequently, research shows that surgical masks are effective at limiting the spread of respiratory secretions, influenza viruses, and bacteria from sick persons to people around them.
While the masks are effective at preventing disease transmission between people, previous studies indicate that surgical masks provide minimal protection against environmental viruses because they are not designed to protect against the inhalation of airborne particles. Furthermore, flu viruses are commonly spread through hand-to-face contact, a method of disease transmission that cannot be prevented by the surgical masks. Another caveat with masks is that they require a proper tight fit to be 100% effective, as tiny airborne particles can enter the sides of loose fitting masks.
Image Source: JEFF PACHOUD
Ultimately, the main purpose of using surgical masks in public settings is to protect others from getting the flu virus. Sick family members can avoid spreading the airborne flu viral particles to others and prevent the contamination of surfaces within their homes by wearing the masks. Other preventative strategies include frequent hand-washing, disinfecting commonly touched surfaces, and avoiding hand contact with the face. While the surgical masks may be most effective at containing germs rather than protecting against them, they can still help to significantly reduce influenza outbreaks.
Feature Image Source: Robert_z_Ziemi
