ANN ARBOR, Mich.---Wearing masks and using alcohol-based hand sanitizers may prevent the spread of flu symptoms by as much as 50 percent, a landmark new study suggests.
In a first-of-its-kind look at the efficacy of non-pharmaceutical interventions in controlling the spread of the flu virus in a community setting, researchers at the University of Michigan School of Public Health studied more than 1,000 student subjects from seven U-M residence halls during last year's flu season.
"The first-year results (2006-2007) indicate that mask use and alcohol-based hand sanitizer help reduce influenza- like illness rates, ranging from 10 to 50 percent over the study period," said Allison Aiello, co-principal investigator and assistant professor of epidemiology at the U-M SPH. Dr. Arnold Monto, professor of epidemiology, is also a principal investigator of the study.
Aiello stressed the first year of the two-year project, called M-Flu, was a very mild flu season and only a few cases were positive for flu, so results should be interpreted cautiously. Ongoing studies will test for other viruses that may be responsible for the influenza-like illness symptoms observed, she said.
"Nevertheless, these initial results are encouraging since masks and hand hygiene may be effective for preventing a range of respiratory illnesses," Aiello said.
If the pandemic is sufficiently lethal I would advise more radical measures such as working at home and taking other steps to hugely decrease your exposure to others. The masks and hand washing help those who go into public places in close contact with others. But staying away from people is the best protection. Wait for a vaccine to get developed before putting your life at risk. One way to keep the economy going and your income flowing during a pandemic is workplace cocooning. Groups of people could live and work together in quarantine zones.
By Randall Parker at 2008 October 27 11:23 PM Pandemic Prepare Personal | TrackBackEven if one cocoons, I think hand sanitizing is a good idea. Otherwise, if even one person gets sick, everyone at the company gets sick. If everyone regularly uses alcohol based hand sanitizers, it would be possible to quarantine or remove the sick person while keeping the rest of the group healthy.
I wonder if anybody knows which types of masks are affordable and effective?
I would like to stock up on these just in case.
I contracted a rare form of Hoof and Mouth disease a couple of months back - that knocked me on my ass - and I had to wear gloves for weeks even when going to the grocery store to avoid affecting others - you can imagine the looks I recieved.
(ungrateful bastid's)
Anyways it was much like getting Chicken Pox and Severe Strep Throat at the same time - and it was a gentle reminder to me to not be quite so complacent about the next, coming, pandemic...
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Didnt work in The Stand, i assume it wont work now. I'm moving to Boulder.
TO: All
RE: Heh
A good scarf can be washed and reused.
As for 'sanitizers', GREAT! Let's generate even MORE POWERFUL BUGS! Just remember to wash your hands well: 30 seconds with soap and water will do the trick. Or rinsing with 99% alcohol too: keep a saturated handkerchief in a ziplock bag in your pocket. I don't know of many bacteria or viruses that have learned to adapt to THAT environment.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
[Chance favors the prepared mind. -- Louis Pasteur, father of modern microbiology]
Chuck,
How exactly do you think 99% alcohol differs from alcohol-based sanitizers? During the SARS epidemic, the hospitals in Ontario used gelled alcohol.
A good scarf won't block an aerosol virus or even airborne droplets, and regular washing may not kill said virus.
Lono-
I own a mixture of N-95 and N-100 masks I bought over time. On eBay the N95 masks are about $1.50 each and the N100 about $5. I'd recommend the masks that are not folded up since they seem more substantial and seem to make a better seal.
There have been some studies that have shown that hand sanitizer gel and hand sanitizer wipes must be used CORRECTLY in order to be effective and that incorrect use may
actually spread bacteria/viruses. Hand washing with soap and water, when possible and for a proper length of time (30 seconds) may be more effective, especially if
antimicrobial soap is used. The key to effectiveness is proper usage. (from a retired operating room supervisor.)
TO: Bob Badour
RE: Quelle Difference?
How exactly do you think 99% alcohol differs from alcohol-based sanitizers? -- Bob Badour
Most sanatizing soaps I've seen are not alcohol-based. They use Chloroxylenol formula. Or some other chemical that could well lead to a more resistant strain. But if you've got something that is alcohol-based, go for it.
RE: Masks vs. Scarves
A good scarf won't block an aerosol virus or even airborne droplets, and regular washing may not kill said virus. -- Bob Badour
It depends on the weave of the scarf vis-a-vis areosols. And as for cleaning, get a strong UV lamp to kill those virons you're worried about. But make sure that the fabric of the scarf will stand up against such exposure.
Hope that helps....
Regards,
Chuck(le)
[Be Prepared! -- Boy Scout motto]
TO: Mark Buehner
RE: Boulder??!??!
Didnt work in The Stand, i assume it wont work now. I'm moving to Boulder. -- Mark Buehner
They're crazier THERE, in reality, than you can imagine....unless you're a rabid 'progressive' Democrat. Then, you'll fit right in. But don't expect them to be 'survivalists', their expecting the giverment to save them.
Personally, based on ten years of evaluating various states in their preparedness to deal with natural disasters and national emergencies, I recommend, the Oregon outback.
Hope that helps....
Regards,
Chuck(le)
[Liberals aren't. Progressives won't.]
Chuck,
Did you read the article you replied to before you wrote your comment?
ANN ARBOR, Mich.---Wearing masks and using alcohol-based hand sanitizers may prevent the spread of flu symptoms by as much as 50 percent, a landmark new study suggests.
Emphasis added.
Retired RN,
Few people wash their hands effectively at any time. I suppose I should not be surprised that using alcohol to sterilize them is no different.
But at least, one can learn how to do it correctly, which doesn't depend on some other bozo learning how to do it correctly.
TO: Bob Badour
RE: Hand Sanitizers
Maybe Randall should have changed the title to include the words 'alcohol-based'. These regular hand-sanitizers have been a pet-peeve of mine from their inception.
But there's nothing wrong with my statements.
As for spreading flu, you don't have to touch someone or be touched by them or touch something that someone who is infected has touched.
Several weeks ago, I was in a meeting with a fellow who came in and said he'd been sick.
We did not shake hands. He did not cough or sneeze. We didn't swap spit or share coffee cups. We didn't have ANY contact, direct or indirect. He sat six feet from me and all we did was breath the same air for one hour in a medium-sized conference room. And the doors were always opened. No need to touch a door handle.
I didn't go anywhere else, other than to and from that meeting. Nor did I go anywhere else for several days. Two days later I came down with a pernicious bit of something and everyone else in the house had it too in no time at all.
So, some bugs don't require as much 'contact' as we might like to think.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
[Some of that stuff out there is down-right scary.]
I take that answer as "No, I didn't read the article before commenting.".
TO: Bob Badour
RE: And....
I take that answer as "No, I didn't read the article before commenting.". -- Bob Badour
...does that make my comment that alcohol-based germ-killing is more effective...in the long run?
No. It doesn't.
We 'agree' and yet you seem interested more in 'disagreement'. This discussion seems to indicate you're more interested in a fight than anything else here.
Hope the helps.....but....as I've experienced in the past.....it probably does not.....
Regards,
Chuck(le)
[A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. -- Proverbs]
P.S. If you REALLY want a 'fight', join me over at QuackOMeter, to discuss alternative forms of medicine. I think you'll find such a discussion 'informative'.....
TO: Bob Badour
RE: ERRATA
That comment in the earlier post should read....
...does that make my comment that alcohol-based germ-killing is more effective, invalid...in the long run?
Sorry about that omission. Working on supper and was distracted by the martini.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
[Alcohol is the anesthesia by which we endure the operation of life. -- George Bernard Shaw]
Chuck Pelto,
The guy probably breathed out some viruses and you breathed them in. Or you opened a door to go into the building and got contaminated then. Either a face mask or cleaning of hands might have avoided your infection.
But your example is just a single data point. The bottom line is that you improve your odds with face masks and hand cleaning.
TO: Randall Parker
RE: Bottom Lines
But your example is just a single data point. The bottom line is that you improve your odds with face masks and hand cleaning. -- Randall Parker
Yeah. Single points of data aren't for squat. Just 'anecdotal' data.
I'll remember to wear a mask tomorrow at the next meeting.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
One point that should be made about hand sanitizers versus hand washing is that the anti-microbial action of the soap is less important that the fact that with hand washing, stuff, including things that may carry viruses or bacteria or whatever, is washed down the drain. Soap, vigorous scrubbing, including the wrists, and running hot water are always better than hand sanitizers. Further, if things get really bad, gloves can also be part of your strategy.