I am hoping that the world will have a handle on the latest outbreak.

Growstuff, I am careful, if there was an announcement that there was a deadly virus circulating I would do what I had to, I’ve had all my vaccines, sanitise, that’s all anyone can do, I don't listen to scaremongering.

Allsorts

Growstuff, I am careful, if there was an announcement that there was a deadly virus circulating I would do what I had to, I’ve had all my vaccines, sanitise, that’s all anyone can do, I don't listen to scaremongering.

There's a difference between being informed and scaremongering. I like to be informed and taking informed decisions. That doesn't make me a scaredy cat.

RosiesMaw I was talking specifically about pandemic diseases, and said so, not infections in general.

Those poor children, what a terrifying problem

Could you tell me which pandemics you have in mind?
Covid, of course, Spanish flu, swine flu?, Bubonic plague?
But just because a disease is spread by eg fleas is it necessarily zoonotic? There are apparently over 150 zoonotic diseases worldwide, which are transmitted to humans by both wild and domestic animal populations, 13 of which are responsible for 2.2 million deaths per year, but these do not necessarily result in pandemics.
I would not think we could still be talking of the Black Death, but maybe you are?

All the evidence I have seen is very cautious about the effectiveness of masks in stopping transmission of COVId or any other virus. Surgical masks worn in a medical environment, where they are worn effectively and obeying every rule and instruction can and do slow down the passing of infection

But for the world at large, wearing cheap disposable masks or cloth masks, that do not fit properly and are often worn below the nose only engender an atmosphere of false security, and if anything facilitate the transmission of COVIDor any other virus.

M0nica

Yes, I do know about the lab escape cause for COVID 19, but that is a seperate issue. Most epidemics come from animal to man transmission.

(You actually said epidemics M0nica )

Jaxjacky

We had a winter surge of strep throats and RSV in children after mask wearing reduced. China only stopped their mandatory mask wearing in April this year.

This may well be very relevant.

I like to be informed and taking informed decisions

Yes, I do too, in particular, about my health.
So, at a simple level, we were to visit my niece this weekend, but two of her children have tested positive for Covid. We’re no longer going.

M0nica

All the evidence I have seen is very cautious about the effectiveness of masks in stopping transmission of COVId or any other virus. Surgical masks worn in a medical environment, where they are worn effectively and obeying every rule and instruction can and do slow down the passing of infection

But for the world at large, wearing cheap disposable masks or cloth masks, that do not fit properly and are often worn below the nose only engender an atmosphere of false security, and if anything facilitate the transmission of COVIDor any other virus.

Of course ineffective masks worn beneath the nose won't stop transmission, but that doesn't mean that effective masks worn properly don't work. They should be encouraged.

Everything is always wonderful if everyone does it properly but what people actually do, as distinct from what they ought to do, has to be factored in when considering the effectiveness of any measure.

China has reported that there are no “unusual or novel pathogens” to be found in the cluster pneumonia outbreaks.

🤞🤞

M0nica

Everything is always wonderful if everyone does it properly but what people actually do, as distinct from what they ought to do, has to be factored in when considering the effectiveness of any measure.

So, you're not actually saying that masks don't work to prevent covid infection. You're saying that wearing incorrectly fitted or inappropriate masks don't work. Which is not proof at all that masking doesn't work.

We know that wearing correct spec. masks, correctly fitted does prevent infection for individuals. That is the important message.
If a government wants to mandate mask wearing as a strategy to cut mass infection it really should make an effort to give clear and accurate information about effective masking. Not expect an inexperienced population to get it right.

Maizie That is exactly what Germany did. Masks had to be FFP2 quality. Only children were allowed to wear non-FFP2 masks.

Pneumonia is mostly spread when people infected, cough ,sneeze or talk, you know the usual method of spreading bacteria, which is a common cause. Children are very susceptible due to their close proximity to each other in schools. The WHO terrifies me, with their draconian lock everyone up that most ountries, including ours, have stupidly signed up to. Or have China been meddling with things they shouldn't.

Wearing a mask includes how it is worn and if generally people people are not wearing masks properly, and from my observed experience over the last three years, is that most people are not wearing masks properly, mainly the problem is a lack of air tightness around the edges of the mask between mask and person then there proabably more dangerous being worn thsn unworn as they engender a false state if security.

M0nica

Wearing a mask includes how it is worn and if generally people people are not wearing masks properly, and from my observed experience over the last three years, is that most people are not wearing masks properly, mainly the problem is a lack of air tightness around the edges of the mask between mask and person then there proabably more dangerous being worn thsn unworn as they engender a false state if security.

As we're a year or so into a false sense of security right now, with people dropping like flies with covid19, and serial reinfections with covid19, I find that somewhat ironic.

However, the fact that they aren't used properly doesn't in any way invalidate the fact that properly fitted, correct specification, masks prevent infection by aerosols. Your first assertion that masks don't work was wrong.

As someone who has been buying and selling protective clothing including many makes/specifications of masks I can confirm that a mask worn incorrectly and/or of the wrong specification for the job/infection involved is as much use as a chocolate teapot.

Oops missed out for over 40 years

Freya5

Pneumonia is mostly spread when people infected, cough ,sneeze or talk, you know the usual method of spreading bacteria, which is a common cause. Children are very susceptible due to their close proximity to each other in schools. The WHO terrifies me, with their draconian lock everyone up that most ountries, including ours, have stupidly signed up to. Or have China been meddling with things they shouldn't.

The WHO aren’t draconian. If they were they might have labelled the pandemic as a pandemic ages before they did would have done something to stop it spreading outside of China. Useless, yes but not draconian.

Freya5

Pneumonia is mostly spread when people infected, cough ,sneeze or talk, you know the usual method of spreading bacteria, which is a common cause. Children are very susceptible due to their close proximity to each other in schools. The WHO terrifies me, with their draconian lock everyone up that most ountries, including ours, have stupidly signed up to. Or have China been meddling with things they shouldn't.

Sorry, but why are you writing about pneumonia?

GrannyGravy13

As someone who has been buying and selling protective clothing including many makes/specifications of masks I can confirm that a mask worn incorrectly and/or of the wrong specification for the job/infection involved is as much use as a chocolate teapot.

The kind of masks which protect construction workers aren't designed to stop the wearer from transmitting minute particles.

growstuff

Freya5

Pneumonia is mostly spread when people infected, cough ,sneeze or talk, you know the usual method of spreading bacteria, which is a common cause. Children are very susceptible due to their close proximity to each other in schools. The WHO terrifies me, with their draconian lock everyone up that most ountries, including ours, have stupidly signed up to. Or have China been meddling with things they shouldn't.

Sorry, but why are you writing about pneumonia?

Because of this from OP

Reports of hundreds of children hospitalised in China from a serious type of pneumonia . It started in the north and is spreading south.

M0nica

Wearing a mask includes how it is worn and if generally people people are not wearing masks properly, and from my observed experience over the last three years, is that most people are not wearing masks properly, mainly the problem is a lack of air tightness around the edges of the mask between mask and person then there proabably more dangerous being worn thsn unworn as they engender a false state if security.

So what kind of behaviour does wearing a mask encourage as a result of this alleged false sense of security?

RosiesMaw

growstuff

Freya5

Pneumonia is mostly spread when people infected, cough ,sneeze or talk, you know the usual method of spreading bacteria, which is a common cause. Children are very susceptible due to their close proximity to each other in schools. The WHO terrifies me, with their draconian lock everyone up that most ountries, including ours, have stupidly signed up to. Or have China been meddling with things they shouldn't.

Sorry, but why are you writing about pneumonia?

Because of this from OP

Reports of hundreds of children hospitalised in China from a serious type of pneumonia . It started in the north and is spreading south.

OK! Thanks for pointing that out.