Study Finds Simple Handwashing, Masks Effective Against Bird Flu, SARS

London, England (AHN) - In the event of a bird flu or SARS pandemic, handwashing and wearing masks, gloves and gowns are effective in preventing the spread of respiratory viruses than prescribing antiviral drugs, according to a new report in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).

The use of vaccines and antiviral drugs will also be insufficient to interrupt the spread of influenza, the report said.

Simple public health measures appear to be highly effective, said researchers from Cochrane Vaccines, Italy; University of York, U.K.; Bond University, Australia; Public Health Agency of Lazio, Rome; and the Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India, after reviewing 51 published studies on the effect of simple physical means of preventing respiratory infections.

The effect of adding antiseptics to normal handwashing to reduce respiratory disease remains uncertain, they said.

The researchers recommended a combination of frequent handwashing (with or without antiseptics), barrier measures (gloves, gowns, and masks), and isolation of people with suspected respiratory tract infections to reduce the transmission of respiratory viruses.

These simple, low cost physical measures should be better evaluated, and given higher priority in national pandemic preparation, they concluded.