The dreaded coronavirus in China has many reaching for face masks across the globe.
While mandatory in Wuhan, China, where the virus originated, a face mask is of little use, practically speaking, some experts say.
But, The White House is expected to announce a new policy, based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that would urge Americans to also wear cloth masks in an effort to prevent coronavirus spread, according to a federal official familiar with the policy.
In a draft document released to the media, the CDC recommended that the public use homemade face coverings when in public, reserving higher-grade protective equipment like N95 masks for hospitals and health care workers, who have faced severe shortages in personal protective equipment as the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated through the United States.
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Such face coverings, according to the draft guidance, would not be intended to protect the wearer, but rather prevent the wearer from unknowingly spreading the disease when in public. Individuals should wear face coverings in public settings like grocery stores, the guidance said. Children under the age of 2 and people experiencing trouble breathing would be excluded from the mask guidelines.
"A surgical mask might provide some protection, but it's going to be very modest," said Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine a
No definitive studies exist that prove masks prevent infections. Also, masks are designed for different purposes and only some guard against infectious diseases.
Picking the right type of mask may be key, said one researcher.
"Several studies, including research from my group, show that if worn properly, masks can protect people in the community from respiratory illness, especially [those] in close contact with sick people," said Dr. Raina MacIntyre. She's head of biosecurity research at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.
MacIntyre's group did a study where parents of a sick child wore a mask at home. Those who wore the mask at all times were protected, she said.
"When infection is widespread, it may be useful," she noted.
However, images from China show people wearing face masks that aren't likely to help, MacIntyre said.
"I recommend disposable masks," she said. "The cloth masks used commonly in China may not be protective. We did a trial of these, compared to disposable masks, and wearers had a higher risk of infection. This may be because the cloth masks are not washed regularly and may retain moisture and become contaminated."
So far the coronavirus has spread to 19 countries, with five confirmed cases in the United States. In China, nearly 6,000 have been infected, with 132 dead.
Schaffner noted that this coronavirus spreads the way flu does, yet the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesn't recommend face masks as a way to avoid flu.
"The reason is that CDC requires scientific evidence to show that any intervention they recommend is likely to have value. It turns out that evidence for using masks in the community is scanty at best," he said.
Also, masks have different uses. Schaffner said a flimsy painter's mask prevents paint from getting in your mouth or nose, but won't stop a virus.
Then there are surgical masks. These are designed to keep fluids or germs from the doctor from contaminating the sterile field in the operating room. But viruses can still pass through it to the wearer, Schaffner said.
When doctors are treating patients who have a communicable disease, they wear a type of mask called an N95 respirator. Because this mask is sealed around the mouth and nose, it will block a virus. But using it requires special training, and it makes breathing harder and is uncomfortable to wear, Schaffner said.
So what can you do to guard against the coronavirus? Schaffner said the best precaution to follow is the same as protecting yourself from the flu, namely, avoid being around people who are sick and wash your hands often.
Dr. Amesh Adalja, a spokesman for the Infectious Disease Society of America, said surgical masks and respirators offer protection in the health care setting and do offer some protection to the general public.
"However, most people in the general public don't wear them properly. They stick their hands under them," said Adalja, a senior scholar at Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security.
Adalja added that the risk to the United States right now from this coronavirus is very small. "Buying these masks could have unintended consequences, including shortages, demand spikes, and price increases," he said.
"It's not really necessary to wear a mask to protect yourself," Adalja noted. "It's not something Americans need to do."
For more on medical face masks, see the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
SOURCES: William Schaffner, M.D., professor, preventive medicine and health policy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn.; Amesh Adalja, M.D., spokesman, Infectious Disease Society of America, senior scholar, Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, Baltimore; Raina MacIntyre, MBBS, Ph.D., head, biosecurity research program, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Checklist: What You Need To Know About Coronavirus
The coronavirus that has rapidly infected nearly 6,000 people in China is spreading across the globe, with five cases confirmed in the United States.
The death toll in China so far has topped 130.
Here's what else you should know about the new coronavirus, called 2019-nCoV, which originated in the city of Wuhan:
"This is a new virus that has not been previously identified in humans," said Debra Chew, a former epidemic officer at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"It belongs to a large family of viruses called coronaviruses. These viruses can cause respiratory illnesses such as the common cold, and more severe illnesses such as the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) or the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)," Chew said.
"Currently, a lot is unknown about the Wuhan coronavirus, but the CDC and the World Health Organization are actively investigating to learn more about this virus, the way it spreads and its severity of illness," added Chew, a professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Should Americans be concerned?
"While any new virus is a serious public health concern, the immediate health risk to the American public is deemed low at this point," said Chew. "The virus is thought to have some limited person-to-person spread, and the CDC and WHO are conducting ongoing investigations to learn more about the degree of this spread."
What is known about how the virus spreads?
"While a lot about this new coronavirus is still unknown, it may have been transmitted to humans from an animal source, as many of the confirmed early cases were linked to a seafood/live animal market in Wuhan, which has since been closed," said Chew. "Some person-to-person spread has occurred by some who were in close contact with an infected patient and are being investigated."
What are the symptoms and health risks?
"Common signs, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties are like those found with other respiratory illnesses," Chew explained. "In more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death. The illness appears to be more severe in those who have underlying medical conditions, a weakened immune system, the elderly and the very young."
How is it treated?
"As with many viruses, there is no specific treatment, but many of the symptoms can be treated, and supportive care for infected persons can be highly effective," Chew said. "Since this is a new virus, there is no vaccine, and it can take a number of years for a new vaccine to be developed."
How can people protect themselves, especially if they are flying and will be in contact with people from all over the world?
"Travelers should follow standard recommendations to reduce exposure to and spread of a range of infections," Chew advised. "This includes washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available, covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve -- not your hands -- when coughing or sneezing, and avoiding close contact, if possible, with anyone showing symptoms of a respiratory illness, such as coughing and sneezing."
On Monday, the CDC urged all Americans to avoid any nonessential travel to all of China, not just Wuhan.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the new coronavirus.
