Does wearing face mask repeatedly without washing it causes legionnaires disease?
Rodgers Odhiambo and Celine Abuga
29/08/2020
FALSE: UNWASHED FACE MASKS WON’T CAUSE LEGIONNAIRES DISEASE
There have been claims that wearing the same face mask repeatedly without washing it can cause legionnaires disease, it has been circulating on various social media platforms like on Facebook and WhatsApp.
Legionnaires disease is a serious form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. The bacteria are found naturally in freshwater sources such as lakes and rivers and can also be found in indoor water sources, jacuzzis and decorative fountains. The disease is spread when a person breathes in infected water droplets or when they drink water containing the bacteria.
According to experts on Legionella.org, a person can’t get the disease from wearing a face mask.
Unlike Covid-19, legionnaires disease “is not spread from person to person in respiratory droplets nor does the bacteria survive on dry surfaces”, the experts say. “Your mask would not be a source of transmission for the Legionella bacteria.”
The message claims a man called a radio talk show to say his wife had been hospitalized with severe Covid-19 symptoms after she had worn the same face mask “every day all day long”.
Research done by Africa Check states that unwashed face mask will not cause legionnaires disease, but experts still recommend washing masks after each use as they can be contaminated by the coronavirus that causes Covid-19, and other bacteria.
The World Health Organization advises washing cloth masks once a day or between each use.
Cloth masks should be washed with hot water and laundry detergent and be completely dry before they are worn again. But not washing your mask regularly will not cause legionnaires disease.
This message is brought to you by Sky Fm in collaboration with Code For Africas’iLab Data Journalism Program supported by DW Akademie
