There has been much talk over the past few years about the possibility of another global influenza epidemic or pandemic. These fears are fueled in part by the inability to stop the spread of highly pathogenic Avian Influenza A, Subtype H5N1 commonly referred to as “bird flu” in migratory waterfowl in Eastern Asia, Europe and portions of
Some influenza experts believe that H5N1 strains have “pandemic potential.” That is to say, they have the potential to acquire the ability to be easily spread from person-to-person, while retaining the ability to cause severe disease. This could ignite a local epidemic that, if not rapidly identified and contained, could quickly become a regional epidemic or even a pandemic.
Public health officials often mention the 1918 influenza pandemic as a worst-case scenario. That pandemic killed an estimated 50 million people worldwide, including approximately 675,000 in the
Until recently, the use of facemasks and respirators for reducing the spread of certain respiratory pathogens was confined to hospitals and other health care settings. Traditionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that health care workers wear facemasks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) including gloves, gowns and protective eyewear or faceshields during outbreaks of seasonal influenza. In 1990, the CDC recommended that health care workers caring for tuberculosis patients wear a particulate respirator. More recently, CDC recommended that health care workers wear particulate respirators when caring for patients infected with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Avian Influenza H5N1, and now pandemic influenza. In May, 2007, the CDC issued interim guidelines recommending that members of the general public consider wearing facemasks or respirators in certain situations during an influenza pandemic.
Few people outside of health care have any knowledge of, or experience with, using facemasks or respirators for infection control or public health purposes. Buying some facemasks or respirators at your local pharmacy or hardware store isn’t enough. You must also learn how to use them properly. Influenza is spread by several modes of transmission. Wearing facemasks and respirators alone doesn’t address all of them. Moreover, wearing facemasks and respirators may give some people a false sense of confidence, encouraging them to engage in riskier behavior than they would otherwise.
Used correctly, facemasks and respirators may reduce, but not eliminate, the risk of contracting or spreading pandemic influenza. Therefore, the use of facemasks and respirators is only one component in a system of personal, household and community measures to reduce risk during an influenza pandemic.
Quite frankly, the idea of an influenza pandemic may seem like a theoretical possibility to some people. However, there were, on average, three influenza pandemics each century during the last 300 years. Influenza pandemics are like earthquakes. There can be extended quiescent periods punctuated by brief periods of intense activity. This can lull people into a false sense of security, reasoning that because this cyclical phenomenon hasn’t occurred lately that it won’t happen at all.
Facemasks and respirators may be of particular importance during the first 6 months of an influenza pandemic. This is because it will take time to develop, distribute and administer a vaccine, which is widely regarded as the best hope for protecting people. Moreover, there are limited supplies of the newly developed human H5N1 vaccine and antiviral medications. In the interim, it will be necessary to implement other measures such as selective school and daycare closings, and cancellation of mass gatherings such as concerts and sporting events. Finally, during the initial phase, there will be many uncertainties about the new pandemic flu virus including the relative contribution of the different modes of transmission. Therefore, the conservative approach is to include the use of facemasks and respirators in addition to these other strategies.
How can millions of people prepare for using facemasks or respirators during the next influenza pandemic? The answer is one person at a time. The first step is awareness. Spending the time now to learn about the role of facemasks and respirators during an influenza pandemic will put you miles ahead of those who wait until the last minute. The next step is action. There will probably be widespread shortages of facemasks and respirators during an influenza pandemic. Therefore, the time to prepare is now, while there is still time to prepare.
This web site examines the role that facemasks and respirators will play during the next influenza pandemic. It is hosted by a hospital safety officer who manages the respiratory protection program for a regional health care delivery system in the Northeast.
The information in this website will be updated periodically. Please refer others who are interested in preparing for the next influenza pandemic to this website. Thank you.
The author is an experienced health & safety trainer, and is available for speaking engagements in the Greater Boston, Massachusetts and
For more information, write to: info@podflu.com
Disclaimer
The information in this website is of an introductory nature, and is intended to increase awareness of this important topic. The author has used reasonable diligence in compiling this information from authoritative sources. However, the author makes no warranty, express or implied, as to the suitability of this information for any specific person or situation. Moreover, because the author cannot control how you choose to use or not use this information, he expressly disclaims any legal liability arising from the detrimental reliance thereon. This web site is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease. Only a licensed health care professional can do that. If you have specific health questions, please seek the guidance of your family doctor or local, state or federal public health officials.
Please feel free to submit questions or constructive comments about this website. The author regrets that he may not be able to reply to each question or comment individually. Instead, he will respond to topics of general interest via this website. However, he will not identify the source and location of the question or comment without your express written consent to do so.
CDC References:
Summary of Interim Recommendations for Facemask and Respirator Use in Certain Community Settings during an Influenza Pandemic
Interim Public Health Guidance for the Use of Facemasks and Respirators in Non-Occupational Community Settings during an Influenza Pandemic
What You Should Know about Using Facemasks and Respirators during a Flu Pandemic
