Wearing masks in public may help wearer from getting flu

For anyone who has heard of the sudden decline of CF patients after getting a mild cold or flu, some to the extent that they are now on ventilator, I believe it is imperative to wear a disposable mask in public places such as the grocery store, mall or hospital during flu season. Who cares if people look at you funny? Better to get curious glances than end up on ventilator. Our lungs are fragile and deserve protection. Advice from mayo clinic: Should I wear a flu mask to protect myself from the flu? Answers from James M. Steckelberg, M.D. It can't hurt and it might help. Some studies have shown that using a surgical mask can help prevent influenza. And using a surgical mask and an alcohol-based hand sanitizer was shown to reduce the number of influenza-like illnesses in a group of students living in a college dormitory even more than using a surgical mask alone. People who live in community housing — such as college dorms, nursing homes or military barracks — are at higher risk of influenza infection because they're in contact with more potentially infected people. Flu viruses travel through the air in droplets when someone with the infection coughs, sneezes or talks. You can inhale the droplets directly, or you can pick up the germs from an object — such as a telephone or computer keyboard — and then transfer them to your eyes, nose or mouth. Flu masks may help block airborne germs, and they may also prevent the transmission of germs from your hands to your mout...
Source: Cystic Fibrosis Adults Forum - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Adults Source Type: forums