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Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020

Does wearing a mask help stop the spread of seasonal flu?

Cory Dawson, Gigafact
yes

Proper mask-wearing can lower the risk of flu spread. Flu, like the coronavirus, spreads person-to-person through droplets ejected into the air when an infected person speaks, coughs or sneezes. But with familiarity, well-understood symptoms and the availability of an annual vaccine that is at least somewhat effective, only medical workers or especially vulnerable individuals have commonly worn masks. The Centers for Disease Control currently does not recommend their use "in non-healthcare settings."

Peer-reviewed studies show that masks can help limit the spread of droplet-transmitted viruses. One 2013 study found that mask-wearing resulted in a more than threefold drop in how much flu virus people put into the air.

The most effective way of preventing seasonal flu is yearly vaccinations and frequent hand-washing, according to the Mayo Clinic.

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