Flu Mask Recommendations Based on Flawed Study, Authors Say

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/SwineFluNews/flu-mask-decision-based-flawed-study-authors/story?id=8966585

Holy cow! Talk about jaw dropping surprises! So now, the N95 guidelines are going to be out the door, and it's back to the surgical masks as soon as the budget departments get a hold of this story...

I expect that there will be lots of analysis of the data, and what it all means. Certainly, more research needs to be done on the transmission of influenza viruses. It really all boils down to exactly how the virus is spread. This particular research is saying that if surgical masks are just as effective, than it must be spread via droplets, but is that a valid conclusion to reach? I have to wonder.

After a re-analysis prompted by questions from reviewers, the findings were no longer significant, said Holly Seale of the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.

The original study, presented earlier this year, formed the basis of some recommendations on the use of masks in a health care setting.

The retraction -- near the end of a presentation at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America -- prompted a "rush to the microphones" by those involved in flu prevention, one expert said.

(thank you FlaMedic for the update)