Options for Controlling Influenza

Reductions in detectable influenza A viruses on hands after handwashing have been demonstrated, and handwashing has been demonstrated to reduce the overall incidence of respiratory diseases. Nonpharmacologic interventions (e.g., frequent handwashing and improved respiratory hygiene) are reasonable and inexpensive. However, the impact of hygiene interventions such as handwashing on influenza virus transmission is not well understood, and hygiene measures should not be advocated as a replacement or alternative to specific prevention measures such as vaccination. Few data are available to assess the effects of community-level respiratory disease mitigation strategies (e.g., closing schools, avoiding mass gatherings, or using respiratory protection) on reducing influenza virus transmission during typical seasonal influenza epidemics. An interventional trial among university students indicated that students living in dormitories who were asked to use surgical face masks, given an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and provided with education about mask use and hand hygiene during influenza season had substantially lower rates of ILI compared with students in dormitories for whom no intervention was recommended. However, neither face mask nor hand sanitizer use alone was associated with statistically significant reduction in ILI. During the 2009 pandemic, one study indicated that having members of households in which an influenza case was identified discuss ways to avoid transmission was associated with a significant reduction in the frequency of additional cases after one household member became ill, suggesting that education measures might be an effective way to reduce secondary transmission. Limited data suggest that transmission of seasonal influenza or ILI among household members can be reduced if household contacts use a surgical face mask or implement hand washing early in the course of an ill index case patient's illness. However, these interventions might supplement use of vaccine as a means to reduce influenza transmission or provide some protection when vaccine is not available.