Qld: Masks no protection from deadly killer, says expert
By Alex Murdoch
BRISBANE, April 4 AAP - Surgical and cheap masks won't provide sure-fire protectionagainst the deadly Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), a health expert warned today.
But they could slow the spread of the disease by limiting hand to face contact.
"Surgical masks are designed to keep wounds sterile during surgery when a surgeon talksor coughs," Griffith University respiratory protection specialist Dr David Bromwich said.
"They are not designed to protect the wearer."
Dr Bromwich said the material used, and the fit of the masks, would offer almost norespiratory protection from airborne particles.
But they could be helpful as a barrier that might stop people who've touched infecteddroplets of saliva, for example, from then touching their faces and becoming sick.
Scientists have said the virus is spread by droplets, through coughing and sneezing.
But the World Health Organisation now believes it may also be spread by the environment,such as by water or sewerage systems, not just by close personal contact.
Dr Bromwich said concerned travellers should consider using a special toxic dust maskwith a class P2 particulate filter, which sells for less than $10.
But he warned even that would not provide 100 per cent protection.
"There is no such thing as complete protection from viruses - or even chemicals forthat matter," Dr Bromwich said.
The warning comes as seven people in Australia, including a south-east Queenslander,wait for tests that will determine if they have SARS.
Meanwhile, Queensland Health today gave a middle-aged woman the all-clear, after earlierbelieving she could have contracted the virus.
"We can now confirm it's not SARS nor is it even remotely connected to SARS," she said,of the woman.
The spokeswoman said the other south-east Queensland case involving a 21-year-old manwas yet to be determined.
"He has voluntarily confined himself to his home," she said.
NSW has two suspected cases, with one in the Northern Territory and three in Victoria- a girl and her two young brothers who are visiting from Canada.
AAP am/sc/tnf/de t
KEYWORD: SARS AUST QLD
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