A reminder for the upcoming flu season - WHO's nonpharmaceutical interventions
>>9352221 lb
>>10055808 lb
>>10411380 lb
This 91-page document published 19 Sep 2019 by the World Health Organization and promoted by the CDC lays out 18 recommendations for dealing with flu. It evolved out of a meeting held from 26 to 28 March 2019 in Hong Kong between the WHO and the University of Hong Kong.
QRD: No evidence that masks reduce transmission, but their effectiveness is plausible. 17 other recommendations included.
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/non-pharmaceutical-public-health-measuresfor-mitigating-the-risk-and-impact-of-epidemic-and-pandemic-influenza
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/329438/9789241516839-eng.pdf
Non-pharmaceutical public health measures for mitigating the risk and impact of epidemic and pandemic influenza
Page 20 of 91:
Face masks worn by asymptomatic people are conditionally
recommended in severe epidemics or pandemics, to reduce transmission in the community. Although there is no evidence that this is effective in reducing transmission, there is mechanistic plausibility for the potential effectiveness of this measure.
A disposable surgical mask is recommended to be worn at all times by symptomatic individuals when in contact with other individuals. Although there is no evidence that this is effective in reducing transmission, there is mechanistic plausibility for the potential effectiveness of this measure.
Page 32 of 91:
OVERALL RESULT OF EVIDENCE ON FACE MASKS
-
Ten RCTs [randomized controlled trials] were included in the meta-analysis, and there was no evidence that face masks are effective in reducing transmission of laboratory-confirmed influenza.