Study Tests Masks to Prevent Flu Pandemic

Flu season is here. And this year the campus at the University of Michigan will be teeming with students wearing surgical masks. But it’s not a sign that a pandemic has hit the US. Tracy Samilton reports:

Transcript

Flu season is here. And this year the campus at the University of Michigan will be teeming with students wearing surgical masks. But it’s not a sign that a pandemic has hit the US. Tracy Samilton reports:


The students will be participating in a massive study to determine if wearing surgical masks really helps to cut down on the risk of getting the flu. University of Michigan researcher Arnold Monto says wearing a mask may end up having only a small effect. But he says it’s still important to know for sure.


“The reason these kinds of differences may be very important is they’re easier to implement than taking medication, so even if it has a very small effect it will end up having a major impact when we do have the inevitable pandemic.”


Students will be expected to wear surgical masks in the dorms, and they’ll be encouraged to wear them everywhere they go. The study will last for six weeks, the expected duration of the flu season.


For the Environment Report, I’m Tracy Samilton.

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