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Update Date: 2009/05/04 20:27 (Central News Agency Reporter Zhou Yingcheng, Geneva, Special Report)
The threat of the H1N1 novel influenza has led many people to wear masks. The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued interim guidelines stating that practices such as frequent handwashing with soap may be more important than wearing masks.
In the guidelines released last night, WHO stated that current evidence suggests the novel influenza is transmitted through droplets. While many people wear masks to prevent infection or spreading the virus to others, in community settings (as opposed to healthcare environments), certain general measures may be more important than wearing masks.
For healthy individuals, these measures include: maintaining a distance of at least one meter from those with flu-like symptoms; minimizing touching of the mouth and nose; frequently washing hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially after contact with potentially contaminated surfaces such as the mouth, nose, or objects; reducing close contact time with potentially infected individuals as much as possible; minimizing time spent in crowded places; and keeping windows open to ensure good ventilation in living spaces.
For those with flu-like symptoms, WHO recommends: staying at home if feeling unwell and following the advice of local public health authorities; keeping at least one meter away from healthy individuals; covering the mouth and nose with tissues when coughing or sneezing, disposing of or washing them immediately after use; washing hands immediately after contact with respiratory secretions; and similarly, keeping windows open to maintain good ventilation.
If using a mask, it should fully cover the mouth and nose, secured tightly to minimize gaps; avoid touching the mask while wearing it, and wash hands if contact occurs; replace the mask when it becomes damp; do not reuse disposable masks—discard them immediately after use. 980504
Source: http://tw. news. yahoo. com/ article/ url/ d/ a/ 090504/ 5/ 1ix0z. html
WHO: Handwashing More Crucial Than Masks against New Flu
The threat of the H1N1 novel influenza has led many people to wear masks. The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued interim guidelines stating that practices such as frequent handwashing with soap may be more important than wearing masks.
In the guidelines released last night, WHO stated that current evidence suggests the novel influenza is transmitted through droplets. While many people wear masks to prevent infection or spreading the virus to others, in community settings (as opposed to healthcare environments), certain general measures may be more important than wearing masks.
For healthy individuals, these measures include: maintaining a distance of at least one meter from those with flu-like symptoms; minimizing touching of the mouth and nose; frequently washing hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially after contact with potentially contaminated surfaces such as the mouth, nose, or objects; reducing close contact time with potentially infected individuals as much as possible; minimizing time spent in crowded places; and keeping windows open to ensure good ventilation in living spaces.
For those with flu-like symptoms, WHO recommends: staying at home if feeling unwell and following the advice of local public health authorities; keeping at least one meter away from healthy individuals; covering the mouth and nose with tissues when coughing or sneezing, disposing of or washing them immediately after use; washing hands immediately after contact with respiratory secretions; and similarly, keeping windows open to maintain good ventilation.
If using a mask, it should fully cover the mouth and nose, secured tightly to minimize gaps; avoid touching the mask while wearing it, and wash hands if contact occurs; replace the mask when it becomes damp; do not reuse disposable masks—discard them immediately after use. 980504
Source: http://tw. news. yahoo. com/ article/ url/ d/ a/ 090504/ 5/ 1ix0z. html