Comments on: The Flu Code

By: @Veterus

@Veterus — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:23:37 +0000

Hi Vinay, of course you can get the masks with or without the valve. Those with the valve are cooler to wear for long periods. The valveless masks would get around the problem you describe.

By: Vinay Gupta

Vinay Gupta — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:50:09 +0000

Ayeup Bradley, I think the new data on mask effectiveness is worth taking a look at:

http://www.unsw.edu.au/news/pad/articles/2009/apr/Swine.html

Face masks are a cheap, effective public health “frontline” against epidemics such as swine flu, especially when vaccines are unavailable or in short supply, UNSW infectious disease expert Professor Raina MacIntyre says.

Professor MacIntyre, who sits on a national panel advising on influenza and emerging infectious diseases, led national commentary by a number of UNSW experts on the latest influenza outbreak, which threatens to become a pandemic.

If a pandemic occurred, face masks would become an important protective measure until a vaccination was developed, Professor MacIntyre, from the School of Public Health and Community Medicine, said.

A world-first clinical study of virus transmission in Sydney families led by Professor MacIntyre found those wearing a mask were four times less likely to be infected than non-wearers.

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The other thing is that the FFP3 masks have outflow valves, and it’s fairly likely – although I haven’t seen a study – that virus-containing water droplets could exit through the outflow valve if somebody wearing such a mask coughed while infected. I wish people would design masks with droplet-catching mesh over the outflow valves. Otherwise, though, those masks look great!

By: @Veterus

@Veterus — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:33:03 +0000

I’d advise stringently following good personal hygien practices at all times not just when there is a novel flu virus on the plot – seasonal flu kills more people (so far) than the current H1N1 virus.

When “Swine Flu” becomes more widespread and it’s lethality increases (scheduled for late August in UK) I’d been keen to wear an FFP3 mask during higher risk activities like collecting groceries from the local supermarket or if I was in a higher risk group – eg recent organ transplant or immunosuppressed.

Whilst surgical masks offer little protection the FFP3 provides a reduction in live virus behind the mask of times 100. Seems like a no-brainer to me!

You can get more information on this and other business continuity matters at http://www.veteruscontuling.com

By: Chris Watkins

Chris Watkins — Sat, 09 May 2009 12:59:40 +0000

Definitely add sneezing into your sleeve, rather than you hand.

By: Jeff R. Allen

Jeff R. Allen — Sat, 02 May 2009 15:16:46 +0000

La promesse grippe 0.1Beta, version français – Une service dans l’intérêt publique de L’institute pour efrondnomiques

1. Si j’ai des signes d’une grippe éventuel, je vais rester chez moi.
2. Je vais rester à distance des foules quand c’est possible, et je vais toujours porter une masque dans les lieux publiques.
3. Je vais laver les mains a la porte chaque fois je arrive a ma destination.
4. Je vais me engager de enseigner ces règles aux autres de protéger tous.

By: Vinay

Vinay — Fri, 01 May 2009 14:02:40 +0000

The flu code in Spanish

¡Antigripéate!
Consejos para evitar la propagación de la gripe.

1.- Si creo que tengo síntomas de una infección, me quedaré en casa.
2.- Aunque no me sienta mal, evitaré concentraciones de gente y siempre llevaré una máscara en lugares públicos.
3.- Me lavaré las manos cada vez que llegue a algún sitio.
4.- Animaré al resto de gente a seguir estos consejos para el bien de todos.

(thanks Moof!)

By: Vinay Gupta

Vinay Gupta — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:33:42 +0000

The key phrase is “in risk areas.” Right now I think we’re about a week away from knowing if “risk areas” is the entire planet. Right now Mexico should be doing these things – and are – and that may also be true for New Zealand. The rest of the world, I think we’re discovering in real time.

By: Roy Schwartz

Roy Schwartz — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:29:49 +0000

You can read more here:
http://bit.ly/vaC5

By: iMark

iMark — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:40:04 +0000

It’s better to sneeze/cough into the crook of your elbow, rather than covering your mouth with your hands.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1568919/Sneezing-into-sleeve-stops-germs-spreading.html

By: Bexter

Bexter — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:18:23 +0000

I like this in principle, would def sign up to it, though I think it needs some tweaking:
face masks are not effective protection, especially if they get moist/wet, or if they’ve been used for longer than an hour or two at a time (this from a medical professional on BBC news this morning).

Maybe could include a commitment to cover your mouth if you cough or sneeze, wash your hands after you have done so, throw away tissues immediately after use?

Definitely agree we need to promote individual responsibility for prevention of infection spreading.