Simple measures restrict flu
Handwashing could help to restrict spread of flu pandemic
Wednesday, 28, Nov 2007 05:25
Simple, low-cost measures such as physical barriers may be more effective at limiting the spread of a flu pandemic than drugs, research claims today.
Last week the UK government announced that it had doubled its order of antiviral drugs in preparation of any potential pandemic.
But the research published on the online website of the British Medical Journal (BMJ), bmj.com, says physical measures should be given higher priority in national pandemic preparation.
An international team of scientists analysed 51 published studies on physical means of preventing respiratory infections.
They found that handwashing and wearing masks, gloves and gowns were individually effective in preventing the spread of respiratory viruses.
When combined these measures were even more effective; the researchers say only three patients would need to be treated in this way to reduce respiratory disease.
Only a handful of studies evaluated measures such as screening at entry ports and social distancing, but the researchers say an analysis of historical and archival US data from the 1918-19 flu pandemic suggests that measures such as school closures and public gathering bans can help to reduce the spread of infection.
The researchers argue their findings show a clear mandate for further large trials to be carried out to evaluate the best combinations for preventing flu pandemics.
"Simple public health measures seem to be highly effective at reducing the transmission of respiratory viruses, especially when they are part of a structured programme including instruction and education and when they are delivered together," they conclude.
"In the meantime we recommend implementing the following interventions combined to reduce the transmission of respiratory viruses: frequent handwashing (with or without antiseptics), barrier measures (gloves, gowns, and masks), and isolation of people with suspected respiratory tract infections."