I noticed on CNN that Dr. Sanjay Gupta was reporting from Mexico with a surgical mask hanging from his neck. It made me wonder if those masks really do anything to keep you from getting the flu. Should you upgrade to a respirator to really be safe?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s [CDC] Web site says “very little is known about the benefits of wearing face masks and respirators to help control the spread of pandemic flu.”
Face masks, like the ones your dentist wears, do not stop you from breathing in small particles. For that, the CDC says you need a respirator rated at N95.
The CDC has issued guidelines for using face masks and respirators:
Consider wearing a face mask if:
- You are sick with the flu and think you might have close contact with other people.
- You live with someone who has the flu (you therefore might be in the early stages of infection) and need to be in a crowded place. Limit the amount of time you spend in these crowded places and wear a face mask while you are there.
- You are well and do not expect to be in close contact with a sick person but need to be in a crowded place.
Consider wearing a respirator if:
- You are well and you expect to be in close contact with people who are known or thought to be sick with pandemic flu. Limit the amount of time you are in close contact with these people and wear a respirator during this time. These recommendations apply if you must take care of a sick person at home.
USA Today said masks are not the only products selling in the midst of the swine flu scare. Here are some others:
- Oregano oil. The extract from wild oregano plants, said to be an antiviral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent, is being sold in 2-ounce bottles for $70 by Spy Shops of Fort Lauderdale. “This is super strong stuff, but it doesn’t taste very good,” says Jose King, sales manager.
- Masks and respirators. Sales of a special respirator took off after the [CDC] specifically recommended folks in affected areas wear N95 respirators by 3M. The company started to ‘ramp up production’ after the CDC recommendation, spokeswoman Jacqueline Berry says.
- Anti-microbial rinses. Among the ways a flu virus can enter the body is via the mouth. So, MedActive Oral Pharmaceuticals is promoting its anti-microbial fluoride rinse, MedActive, as a method of protection. It costs $44.95 for 28 doses. “It’s an extra layer of defense that provides protection from harmful bacteria,” CEO Don Mackey says.
