Should people take extra measures, like wearing surgical masks to avoid exposure?
Because information on the effectiveness of facemasks or respirators for the control of influenza in community settings is limited, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is currently encouraging individuals to practice good hygiene and take the normal precautions to protect themselves as they would from regular seasonal flu. Should you choose to purchase a facemask, masks cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as medical devices have been determined to help protect penetration of blood and body fluids. This includes facemasks labeled as surgical, dental, medical procedure, isolation or laser masks, and these typically are available for purchase at local pharmacies, supermarkets or hardware stores.
