Swine flu Masks

Hemant Thacker, consulting physician at Jaslok and Breach Candy Hospital
There is no need to use a mask at this stage. If people want to use maskswhile traveling, ensure that it is dry, store it in a bag and change themask after a maximum of four trips".
Indiscriminate use of a face masks to prevent Swine flu virus can causemoreharm than good, say medical experts.

Panicking over the growing numbers of swine flu cases, several people havebegun wearing disposable face masks in crowded areas to avoid catching thevirus. But, medical practitioners warn that this, in fact, would spread thevirus faster.

Disposable masks have a life of four hours and need to be changedperiodically especially if they get wet. Tanu Singhal, paediatrics andtropical & infectious diseases specialist at Kokilaben Dhirubhai AmbaniHospital said: "We do not recommend that people wear masks unless they areat home with a sick person or in a hospital. The mask has very limited usesand serve no purpose when worn on the roads or in the train."

Reuse of the masks can spread the infection especially if not disposed ofproperly or if worn more than once. "When people wear the mask in a publicplace and then enter a house or an office, they could spread theinfection.The only time they should use a mask is if they have a cough themselves.Andits important the masks are properly disposed of," Ms Singhal said.

Hemant Thacker, consulting physician at Jaslok and Breach Candy Hospitalsaid: "Wearing a mask too tight can cause it to get wet because of thespit.

With reports of increased use of disposable masks and the governmentplanning to import more to meet demand, doctors are worried that lack ofawareness might complicate the situation further.