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title: ""Many countries are stockpiling face masks for use as a…"
date: 2020-03-15
source: facebook
type: Archer T. Ships shared a link.
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# "Many countries are stockpiling face masks for use as a…

*March 15, 2020 · Facebook*

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[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2662657/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2662657/){target="_blank"}
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\"Many countries are stockpiling face masks for use as a nonpharmaceutical intervention to control virus transmission during an influenza pandemic. We conducted a prospective cluster-randomized trial comparing surgical masks, non--fit-tested P2 masks, and no masks in prevention of influenza-like illness (ILI) in households. Mask use adherence was self-reported. During the 2006 and 2007 winter seasons, 286 exposed adults from 143 households who had been exposed to a child with clinical respiratory illness were recruited. We found that adherence to mask use significantly reduced the risk for ILI-associated infection, but \<50% of participants wore masks most of the time. We concluded that household use of face masks is associated with low adherence and is ineffective for controlling seasonal respiratory disease. However, during a severe pandemic when use of face masks might be greater, pandemic transmission in households could be reduced.\"\
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[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2662657/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2662657/){target="_blank"}
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