Anti-flu masks don’t work as well as advertised

A FTV news report about how protective masks that offer “99%” virus protection are selling well:

A study conducted by the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan found that most masks are far less effective than their packages claim. Of the fifteen brands of 99% anti-viral masks tested, twelve had filters with below 95% virus-blocking capability. Six of those twelve, six were below 80%. When one considers the fact that masks will not be a perfect fit for everyone’s head, the effectiveness of the masks is almost cut in half. Even the masks with very good filters are unlikely to provide total protection from the flu virus. The government will advise mask producers to change their packaging to better reflect reality.

Of course, this will have little effect on those who are buying and wearing these masks. Even when confronted with evidence that the masks are probably ineffective, people said they were going to wear the masks anyway because they need any protection they can get.

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18 comments - What do you think? Posted by James - November 20, 2009 at 7:01 am

Categories: General Japan Tags:

yoga boy

More so than them not being as effective as advertised I am concerned about the fibers and particulates that are left behind after the manufacturing process. The user inhales these deep into their lungs and that cannot be a good thing. What quality of material are these various masks made from and I would like to see the factories they are made in. No one seems to bat and eye or give a thought to this, they just think “apply mask to face and breath”.
LB

James, there is a very big difference between “ineffective” and “less effective than advertised”. The masks are not “99% effective in blocking flu virus”, true. Saying they are is false, or the very least deceptive (perhaps under certain very specific manufacturer-controlled non-real-world conditions in a lab they were 99% effective) advertising, which needs to be, and apparently is being, dealt with.

However, you and Adam at Mutantfrog always seem to be on some “anti-mask crusade”, as though there is something completely wrong with wearing masks, or that wearing them increases the spread of the disease, or just that you “know better”.

All I know is this: About 35000 Americans die every year from seasonal flu. In Japan, with a bit less than half the population but 11 times the average population density of the US (which is the more important figure as diseases spread much better in a densely-packed population than a spread-out one) the annual death rate from seasonal flu is only about 10,000 per year. This tells me that either the Americans are doing something wrong, or Japanese are doing something right.

http://www.japanprobe.com James

My post is about a TV news segment that quite clearly shows that consumers are being greatly misled about the effectiveness of anti-flu masks. The report highlights how many masks may not properly fit certain faces, a situation that would even make N-95 masks ineffective.

there is something completely wrong with wearing masks, or that wearing them increases the spread of the disease, or just that you “know better”.

I haven’t written that wearing masks increases the spread of disease. Unlike the masks that everyone was wearing a few months ago, these masks at least seem to have some capability to filter out the virus

However, I think that a lot of people are putting way too much faith in masks, and I think it’s good that the government is taking steps to tell companies to stop feeding misconceptions.

This tells me that either the Americans are doing something wrong, or Japanese are doing something right.

Without any serious studies available, suggesting that masks are one of the main contributing factors to “something right” is nothing but wild speculation.

LB

I wouldn’t say that masks are one of the main contributing factors, but neither am I prepared to dismiss them as a possible, perhaps even likely, contributing factor. Some out there apparently are prepared to completely dismiss them, perhaps not yourself but you have put up entries several times downplaying masks while promoting things like “sneezing into your sleeve” (yuk).

If people were making masks into some kind of “security blanket”, and acting like they could do anything they wanted, touch anything they wanted, etc. as long as they had a mask on then yes, I would tend to agree that the use of masks was contrary to the goal of preventing the spread of the flu. However I tend to see it as the other way around – the masks make people more aware they need to be careful, and with the general level of cleanliness here as opposed to, say, the States, where wiping your hands on your jeans before grabbing food and stuffing it in your mouth is all too frequently considered “exercising cleanliness” I certainly don’t see mask use as making things worse.

That said – if the specific point here is that these particular masks do not work as they are advertised to, then I am in full agreement the makers need to be taken to task. And it seems they are.
http://aki-akiaki.blogspot.com/ Aki

From the post: “Even when confronted with evidence that the masks are probably ineffective,…”

No such evidence is provided in the linked video clip, and probably there is none anywhere.

A study recently published in the Annals of Internal Medicine showed that masks were effective in preventing influenza infection. You can read a summary of the study below.

http://www.annals.org/content/151/7/I-18.long

According to the original paper linked from the bottom of the summary page, the researchers used Kimberly-Clark ‘The Lite One’ surgical masks in the study.

http://www.ariamedical.com/kimberly-48100.html

The mask does not appear to fit tightly on the face, but it was still effective in preventing influenza infection.

Ajapa

Another positive evidence on wearing masks:

“Worried about the flu? Get a mask”
By Coco Ballantyne, News Blog on Scientific American, Jan 26, 2009

Some excerpts from the above article (parts not on effectiveness on prevention of infection):

The U.S. has been stockpiling face masks to distribute to people in the event of a deadly bird flu or other viral outbreak, but MacIntyre says that until now clinical evidence that they’re effective has been thin. She says this study shows they could limit the spread, which is crucial given that it could take up to six months for scientists to roll out vaccines and drugs targeting the responsible virus.

I want to especially put emphasis on the second sentence above, and

The U.S. has already stockpiled 51,794,600 surgical masks and 105,873,370 N-95 masks (similar to the P2 variety used in the study), according to CDC spokesperson Von Roebuck. He notes that each state has its own supply, which the feds will augment if necessary.

pixel_bomber

If these masks are worn by the people already sick and spreading the germs it is probably a lot more effective. At least then you would know how not to stand next to on the train.

Ajapa

The incubation period for the H1N1 virus is said to be between one and four days. So, it may be people not already “sick” (showing no symptoms) who are actually spreading the germs… In rush hours trains, perhaps I can’t choose a person stand next to me, and as no good ventilation is expected there, maybe I must consider a gas mask.

Ajapa

Of course, this will have little effect on those who are buying and wearing these masks.

Not all people buying and wearing masks are doing so solely for the purpose of protection from the flu virus. There are several benefit already known before 2009 flu pandemic, e.g., as measures to allergic rhinitis caused mainly by pollen (花粉症) especially at early spring, to protect the respiratory organs from dry and cold air in winter, and so on. Some people wear a mask to prevent spreading splash of saliva and others these days.

LB

Agreed. I usually wear a mask on planes because it helps with that cold, dry air. Not because of floating bugs – the air actually probably does a better job of preventing the spread of bugs than a mask does anyway (unless the guy next to you is the sick one).
The Overklingon

Ajapa: “allergic rhinitis” – you looked up 花粉症 in a dictionary, I imagine. Most people call it just “hayfever.” I actually think a lot of people will not know what “allergic rhinitis” is.

The Overthinker

(Bugger, I forgot to change the name back from my defence of the honour of Klingons on the Matsue Castle Wedding post….)
Ajapa

Um, I though 花粉症 is somewhat “unique” to modern Japanese and then I went into “allergic rhinitis” for アレルギー性鼻炎 instead without looking up it in a dictionary. I found “pollinosis” and “hayfever” in an online dictionary now. Thanks for correction.

Karisu

This seems to be a common mistake. Thinking that things are “unique” to Japan.

Like, having 4 seasons…
Ajapa

Like, having 4 seasons…

It’s funny that Antonio Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” is one of the most famous classical music composition at the same time…
http://www.zdwonline.de Haf

What Karisu meant is that many Japanese seem to think that their country is the only one with for distinct seasons. While of course other countries in the world do have four seasons, the really funny thing is that even in Japan there are islands where the seasons are not as distinct as they may be on Honshu.
Ajapa

Haf,

Sorry, to clarify, I meant ‘Antonio Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” is one of the most famous classical music composition even to the Japanese at the same time.’

I think most Japanese heard about it at least once in their music class in the elementary or junior high school, so everyone should actually be aware that the four seasons is not unique to Japan at all. Maybe, many Japanese are not really interested in and do not take it so seriously, and there are just some sick people who still insist these kind of strange Japanology theory and knowledge. I said it’s funny that there exists an obvious contradictory situation in Japan.

Tom

Having been really ill this week, I’ve worn a mask just out of respect so as not to cough all over other people throughout the day. If it even reduces my spread of germs a bit then that’s great.

Didn’t stop the woman in the shop telling me how ‘sugoi’ it was for a gaijin to wear a mask. :/

Anti-flu masks don’t work as well as advertised

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