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This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.

Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.

FACT BRIEF

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

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

By Cory Dawson

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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.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

Mayo Clinic: Should I wear a flu mask?

National Library of Medicine: Study on effectiveness of masks to slow flu spread

National Library of Medicine: Randomized trial on preventing household flu spread with facemasks and hand hygiene

Centers for Disease Control: Guidance on mask use for flu transmission

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR

Gigafact

Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.

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About fact briefs published on Gigafact

Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.