Know Your Masks, If You Must Mask
| As the paranoia spreads with the increasing number of reported deaths worldwide, I couldn’t help noticing the plethora of mask types that are being worn. Is the right mask being worn? More important, are people wearing them for the correct reasons? First a few facts: 1.The H1N1 virus, like any flu virus, spreads in the air as droplets, mainly through the coughs and sneezes of people who are sick with the virus, but it may also be spread by touching infected objects (including hands) and then touching your nose or mouth. 2.The flu virus is 0.08-0.12 microns in size (micron= one millionth of a metre). Small enough to pass through most masks!  So, using an ordinary facemask, whether single-ply, 2 ply or 3 ply, is really to protect other people from you. Its designed to keep the germs in and should be worn by those having a influenza-like illness(ILI).(fever 37.8°C or greater) and a cough and/or a sore throat). Otherwise, if you want to keep the germs out & protect yourself from getting the flu, then you need to use the N95 mask (also called respirator). It must be tight-fitting and is rather uncomfortable to wear over long periods as extra effort is sometimes needed to inhale. Whichever mask you use, you need to practise social distancing (2 metres away), social etiquette (blocking off a sneeze and cough) and frequent handwashing. Source - Doctor2008's weblog |
posted by Francis Xavier at 2:04 PM
