You don’t need N95 masks, 3-layered surgical masks fine: Doctors | India News
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https://ift.tt/eA8V8J News February 01, 2020 at 09:23AM
MUMBAI: The Wuhan coronavirus outbreak has resulted in stocks of N95 facemasks disappearing from chemist shops in the city, but doctors say the high-end mask may not be as effective as people presume it to be. Moreover, it may be unnecessary outside healthcare settings and hospitals.
Infectious diseases specialist Dr Om Srivastava said, “Only people in healthcare settings who are going to be constantly around infected people need an N95 mask.”
Experts say data from China suggests the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV) can travel about two or three feet distance as it is a relatively “large” virus. Chennai-based internal medicine specialist Dr V Ramasubramanian said he doesn’t advise general people to use a mask at all. “Only if you travel to an affected zone, use a triple-layered surgical mask,” said the doctor.
Infectious diseases specialist Dr George Oomen said one preventive measure isn’t enough. “Along with wearing a surgical mask, one needs to wash hands regularly as well.” Doctors, in fact, say that washing hands frequently to break any transmission chain — such as an infected person touching lift buttons, doorknobs or computers — could be the most effective preventive method.
Dr Oomen pointed out to a 2019 study published in JAMA (Journal of American Medical Association) that showed the type of face mask didn’t make a big difference in the spread of flu. The study among 2,862 medical health workers spread across seven health centres in the US concluded: “Wearing N95 respirators versus medical masks” resulted in no significant difference in the incidence of laboratory-confirmed influenza. In another study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association in 2009, surgical masks appeared to be nearly as effective as N95 respirators in preventing influenza among healthcare workers in Canada.
Infectious diseases specialist Dr Om Srivastava said, “Only people in healthcare settings who are going to be constantly around infected people need an N95 mask.”
Experts say data from China suggests the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV) can travel about two or three feet distance as it is a relatively “large” virus. Chennai-based internal medicine specialist Dr V Ramasubramanian said he doesn’t advise general people to use a mask at all. “Only if you travel to an affected zone, use a triple-layered surgical mask,” said the doctor.
Infectious diseases specialist Dr George Oomen said one preventive measure isn’t enough. “Along with wearing a surgical mask, one needs to wash hands regularly as well.” Doctors, in fact, say that washing hands frequently to break any transmission chain — such as an infected person touching lift buttons, doorknobs or computers — could be the most effective preventive method.
Dr Oomen pointed out to a 2019 study published in JAMA (Journal of American Medical Association) that showed the type of face mask didn’t make a big difference in the spread of flu. The study among 2,862 medical health workers spread across seven health centres in the US concluded: “Wearing N95 respirators versus medical masks” resulted in no significant difference in the incidence of laboratory-confirmed influenza. In another study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association in 2009, surgical masks appeared to be nearly as effective as N95 respirators in preventing influenza among healthcare workers in Canada.
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from WordPress https://ift.tt/2GLZ1zl
https://ift.tt/eA8V8J News February 01, 2020 at 09:23AM
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