Bibliographic information
GuidelineWHO guideline on public health and social measures for mitigating the risk and impact of epidemic and pandemic influenza
Year of Publication2026
Issuing InstitutionWorld Health Organization
Recommendation
New
WHO suggests that:
- individuals who are symptomatic and/or have tested positive for influenza wear masks
at all times when in contact with other individuals to reduce the spread of influenza to others; and
- all individuals in the community wear masks in crowded indoor settings to potentially
reduce the spread of influenza in such settings during influenza epidemics and pandemics of high or extraordinary severity.
Recommended in favor
Conditional
Certainty of evidence
Moderate
Notes and Remarks
Mask wearing must be paired with educational materials/campaigns to ensure both adherence and proper use.
- The use of masks in the community should be considered as a complementary measure and not as a replacement for other preventive measures recommended to reduce community transmission.
- Face shields6 commonly used in healthcare settings to prevent exposure of mucosal surfaces on the face to potentially infectious droplets, are rarely used in non-healthcare. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of face shields in community settings was significantly higher on its own or along with face masks, often motivated by perceptions of the additional protection that could be provided or as an alternative to face masks. Informed public health messages would be needed to clarify that face shield should not be used as a replacement for masks in the community (8).
- Implementation of mask wearing recommendations during influenza epidemics and pandemics should take into account the availability of face masks in the community during the start of an epidemic or pandemic due to supply or cost.