Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

February 6, 2020

Nonpharmaceutical measures for pandemic influenza in nonhealthcare settings—personal protective and environmental measures

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  • Personal protective measures assessed were hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, and face masks. Environmental hygiene measure assessed was surface and object cleaning with viral disinfectants.
  • While hypothetically promising, in practice, none of the personal protection measures (as used by the general public) appeared to affect influenza spread. Hand hygiene was noted as still effective for other infectious diseases, and has few negative consequences.
  • As with hand hygiene, surface and object cleaning did not appear to, in practice, affect transmission of influenza, though its utility in controlling spread of other agents was noted.

Xiao J et al. (Feb 6, 2020). Nonpharmaceutical measures for pandemic influenza in nonhealthcare settings—personal protective and environmental measures. Emerg Infect Dis. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2605.190994